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abimer
/a.bi.me/
damage
Il a abimé sa voiture en la garée trop près du trottoir.
He damaged his car by parking it too close to the curb.
general
To cause physical harm or deterioration to something, making it less functional or valuable.
Le sel a abimé les feuilles de la plante.
The salt damaged the plant's leaves.
Ce tissu s'abime facilement au soleil.
This fabric gets damaged easily in the sun.
Commonly used for objects, materials, or surfaces. Often implies irreversible harm.
formal
To harm someone's reputation or character.
Ces rumeurs ont abimé sa réputation.
These rumors damaged his reputation.
Less common than the physical sense, but used in formal or literary contexts.
Collocations
Pro Tip
Spelling Variation
Remember that 'abîmer' (with a circumflex) is the more standard spelling in modern French, but 'abimer' is also accepted, especially in informal writing.
Gold Rule
Physical vs. Figurative Damage
Use 'abimer' for physical damage (e.g., 'abimer une voiture') and reserve the figurative sense (e.g., 'abimer une réputation') for formal contexts.
Word Origin
From Old French *abimer* (16th century), possibly from *à* (to) + *bimer* (to strike, from Frankish *bimjan* or Old High German *bimban*). The exact origin is uncertain but may relate to the idea of striking something to the point of damage.
Usage Notes
In modern French, 'abîmer' is more commonly used than 'abimer' (with a circumflex), though both are correct. 'Abimer' is often seen in informal or regional contexts.
Word Breakdown
à
to
prepositionbimer
to strike or damage
verbDictionnaire Français-Anglais