accorder
/a.kɔʁ.de/To agree, to grant, or to harmonize
Il a accordé son aide à son ami.
He granted his help to his friend.
Les deux parties ont accordé leurs versions.
Both parties agreed on their versions.
Can be used in both literal and figurative senses.
To tune (an instrument) or to adjust (a mechanism)
Le musicien a accordé son violon avant le concert.
The musician tuned his violin before the concert.
L'ingénieur a accordé les paramètres du moteur.
The engineer adjusted the engine's parameters.
In music, it refers to tuning instruments.
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💡Pro Tip
Context Matters
The meaning of 'accorder' can vary significantly depending on the context. In legal contexts, it means 'to grant,' while in music, it means 'to tune.'
⚡Gold Rule
Direct Object Agreement
When 'accorder' is used with a direct object, the past participle must agree with the object if it is placed before the verb.
📖Word Origin
From Old French 'accorder', from Latin 'accordare' (to agree, harmonize), from 'ad-' (to) + 'cordare' (to hearten).
📝Usage Notes
The verb 'accorder' is often used in legal, musical, and technical contexts, but it is also common in everyday language.