abîmer
/a.bi.me/verb★Intermediate— to damage or spoil
general
To damage, harm, or spoil something, often through carelessness or accident.
Ne pas abîmer les livres de la bibliothèque.
Do not damage the library books.
Le vent a abîmé les fleurs du jardin.
The wind damaged the garden flowers.
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The past participle 'abîmé' can also function as an adjective meaning 'damaged' or 'spoiled'.
Collocations
abîmer quelque choseto damage somethingabîmer intentionnellementto damage intentionally
Synonyms
💡Pro Tip
Common Mistake
Do not confuse 'abîmer' with 'embarrasser' (to embarrass).
📖Word Origin
From Old French 'abimer', from 'a-' (to) + 'bimer' (to beat, strike). Related to 'battre' (to beat).
📝Usage Notes
In formal contexts, 'détériorer' may be preferred over 'abîmer'.
Word Breakdown
a-
to
prefixbîmer
to beat, strike
rootDictionnaire Français-Anglais