French edit

Etymology edit

Inherited from Middle French desrober, from Old French desrober, from des- +‎ rober (to steal), the latter from Late Latin raubāre, from Frankish *raubōn, from Proto-Germanic *raubōną (to rob; steal).

Pronunciation edit

  • IPA(key): /de.ʁɔ.be/
  • (file)

Verb edit

dérober

  1. (transitive) to conceal, screen, shield (à from)
  2. (transitive) to steal (à from)
  3. (transitive, literary) to turn away (one's head, gaze etc.)
  4. (reflexive) to shirk, shy away (à from)
  5. (reflexive) to hide (oneself)
  6. (reflexive) to slip away (free oneself)
  7. (reflexive) to give way (collapse)
    • 1831, Victor Hugo, Notre-Dame de Paris, IX.1:
      Ses genoux se dérobèrent sous lui, et il s’affaissa sur le pavé [...]. [His knees gave way under him, and he collapsed onto the stone floor.]
      (please add an English translation of this quotation)
  8. (reflexive, horseriding) to refuse

Conjugation edit

Related terms edit

Further reading edit