Hot answers tagged prefixes
8
First, the re- prefix doesn't always connote re-petition (e.g. recompter), it may also indicate re-currence (e.g. rebondir), re-action (e.g. rebondir with a different meaning), re-adjustment (e.g. rehausser), or state re-covery (e.g. revenir), re-ciprocity (e.g. redevoir), among others.
Most verbs do not admit such a prefix. I would advise you against ...
8
Toutes les expressions de la forme mi-durée qui désignent la date au milieu de l'intervalle de temps concerné sont féminines. C'est mon impression, et elle est confirmée par le Trésor de la langue française (I.A.1). On dit ainsi la mi-journée, la mi-janvier, la mi-automne, et ainsi de suite, indépendamment du genre du mot exprimant la durée.
L'usage (une ...
7
archi- is a prefix used to indicate something pushed to its limits, going further the usual meaning.
Its use is rather colloquial today, but it still remains in some words, mainly in religious/noble titles : archevêque (archbishop), archiduc (archduke), archiprêtre (archpriest)...
In your context, archirevu would mean exactly what you guessed, seen again ...
5
S'il faut en croire Grevisse (§476 a) 1°), le féminin se serait généralisé sous l'influence de mi-août désignant l'Assomption, où le « fête » sous-entendu est à l'origine du changement (les noms en « mi+mois » étant traités comme masculins en ancien français). Mi, qui jusque là avait été un adjectif (c'est l'évolution du latin media; cf. aussi l'usage ...
4
En français les préfixes peuvent se souder à un nom (aéroglisseur, surréalisme, contrepoids…), ou bien se lier à eux à l'aide d'un tiret (sous-titre, non-violence, contre-pied…), l'usage varie, mais dans aucun cas il ne constituent un mot à eux seuls.
Le préfixe sous- semble toujours relié à un nom par un tiret (cf. la liste du wiktionnaire). Apposé a un ...
3
Recouvrir is quite never used as Couvrir une nouvelle fois (cover again), and that's precisely because recouvrir and couvrir are two different verbs.
Laure is right in that recouvrir is more used when you wrap up something totally, while couvrir can be used in all cases, and can have much more meanings. For instance, you'd say that le ciel est couvert (the ...
2
There are lots of pre-existing case (everyday use) of verbs with re- before: rebondir, rejaillir, retordre, retrousser…
But the re- form enables you to make new verbs with a meaning of repetition or not, which are not provided (directly) by the French language. You can use the re- before a verb with almost every verbs or nouns in French.
A very good ...
2
In a general sense Couvrir is "to cover". But the verb has several meanings and you'd need to give more of a context.
In English "cover" will usually be followed by a preposition that will specify the meaning, and you might end up with different verbs in French. Have a look at Reverso.
Indeed recouvrir is to cover again. But when used in a concrete sense, ...
1
It is a repetition. It means "again and again". Your sentence could be translated like this :
Italy and all its beauties, seen again and again.
Moreover it is normal that you do not find "archirevu" because it is not one word but two. It is not "archirevu" (which does not exist in French) but "archi revu".
1
You can do it in most cases and it should be understood: reparler, remonter, revoir, reprendre, recourir, relire…
but it will sound weird in some cases, even if it makes sense: raimer (aimer), se révanouir, rehaïr, repréférer, recomprendre…
and in some cases it means something else entirely: réviser, reporter, remiser, répondre, ressentir, regarder… and in ...
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