doléance

French

Etymology

Formed from Middle French douliance, itself from doulant, the present participle of the verb douloir, Old French doloir (corresponding to Latin dolēntem, present participle of doleō (“to suffer”)), and the suffix -ance. The -é- is of uncertain origin; it was possibly recreated based on the model of créance, échéance.

Pronunciation

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Noun

doléance f (plural doléances)

1. (chiefly in the plural) grievance; complaint

Derived terms

• (historical) cahier de doléance

Related terms

• condoléance

Further reading

• “doléance”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012.