substantifique moelle

French

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /syp.stɑ̃.ti.fik mwal/

• Audio

  (file)

Noun

substantifique moelle f (uncountable)

1. (figuratively) the very substance, the true essence, the pith, the marrow, the crux of the matter, the heart of the matter, the core; the hidden meaning, the true meaning, the real meaning
   • 2016 July 6, “Mélisande transportée au pays de Freud et de Lewis Carroll”, in Le Monde‎^[1]:

     Elle a capté dans son chant la substantifique moelle du fredon debussyste.

     (please add an English translation of this quotation)

See also

• quintessence