FuroraCeltica Triglot Senior Member United Kingdom Joined 6866 days ago 1187 posts - 1427 votes Speaks: English*, Spanish, French
| Message 1 of 4 30 December 2010 at 12:56am | IP Logged |
I know that the word means joy, but Im struggling a little with its use in certain expressions. Any help would be appreciated
Examples
les familles des victimes traitent carrément « de gré à gré » avec les ravisseurs
les marchés étaient passés de gré à gré
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Spiderkat Diglot Senior Member United States Joined 5813 days ago 175 posts - 248 votes Speaks: French*, English Studies: Russian
| Message 2 of 4 30 December 2010 at 7:06am | IP Logged |
I don't think it has anything to do with "joy". The word "gré" has two main meanings which are "to suit or pleasant" and "gratitude". But since this word is used in different expressions, its meaning tend to be sligthly different.
So this one "gré à gré" means mutual agreement. This one "contre son gré" means against your will. This one "de son plein gré" means of your own free will. This one "savoir gré à qqn de qqch" means to be grateful to sb for sth. This one "au gré de" means suitable, liking. And so on.
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Sennin Senior Member Bulgaria Joined 6035 days ago 1457 posts - 1759 votes 5 sounds
| Message 3 of 4 30 December 2010 at 10:50am | IP Logged |
gré, masculin, invariable
- Volonté, caprice, fantaisie (Vous pouvez, à votre gré, partir ou rester);
- Bonne, franche volonté qu’on a de faire quelque chose (De gré à gré, à l’amiable, en se mettant d’accord);
- Il se prend aussi pour goût, sentiment, opinion (Cela est-il à votre gré ?);
- Dans le langage ascétique, avec patience, avec résignation (Il faut prendre en gré les afflictions que Dieu nous envoie);
- Gratitude, reconnaissance (Savoir gré, savoir bon gré, beaucoup de gré, savoir mauvais gré, peu de gré à quelqu’un).
-> http://fr.wiktionary.org/ wiki/gr%C3%A9
Edited by Sennin on 30 December 2010 at 11:02am
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FuroraCeltica Triglot Senior Member United Kingdom Joined 6866 days ago 1187 posts - 1427 votes Speaks: English*, Spanish, French
| Message 4 of 4 30 December 2010 at 12:45pm | IP Logged |
Spiderkat wrote:
I don't think it has anything to do with "joy". The word "gré" has two main meanings which are "to suit or pleasant" and "gratitude". But since this word is used in different expressions, its meaning tend to be sligthly different.
So this one "gré à gré" means mutual agreement. This one "contre son gré" means against your will. This one "de son plein gré" means of your own free will. This one "savoir gré à qqn de qqch" means to be grateful to sb for sth. This one "au gré de" means suitable, liking. And so on. |
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Many thanks
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