nénuphar

See also: nenuphar

French

Etymology

From Medieval Latin nenuphar, from Arabic نِلُوفَر (nilūfar), نِينُوفَر (nīnūfar), from Middle Persian nylw(k)pl (nīlōpal, “lotus, water-lily”), from Sanskrit नीलोत्पल (nīlotpala).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ne.ny.faʁ/

• Audio

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Noun

nénuphar m (plural nénuphars)

1. Pre-1990 spelling of nénufar.
   • 1947, Boris Vian, L'écume des jours, Kindle edition:

     Chloé dormait. Dans la journée, le nénuphar lui prêtait la belle couleur crème de sa peau mais pendant son sommeil, ce n’était pas la peine, et les taches rouges de ses joues revenaient.

     Chloé was asleep. During the day, the water lily lent her skin its beautiful cream colour, but while she was sleeping, it didn't bother, and the red spots on her cheeks came back.

Further reading

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