dessein

French

Etymology

Deverbal of Middle French desseigner (see dessiner). Doublet of dessin and design.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /de.sɛ̃/

• Audio:

  (file)

• Homophone: dessin

Noun

dessein m (plural desseins)

1. (literary) intention; plan; design

Derived terms

• à dessein
• sans-dessein

Further reading

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