armer
arm
Armer is a French verb that primarily means "to arm" or "to equip with weapons."
Meaning and Usage:
-
To equip with weapons or armor:
This is the core meaning, where "armer" refers to the action of providing someone or something with arms (weapons), like arming a soldier or a ship.- Example: Le soldat a été armé avant la bataille. (The soldier was armed before the battle.)
-
To prepare or equip (more generally):
By extension, it can also mean to equip or prepare for a particular purpose, not necessarily involving weapons.- Example: Armer un navire means to outfit a ship with the necessary gear and crew.
-
To tension or cock a weapon or mechanism:
It can also mean to "cock" or ready a weapon, especially firearms or artillery, or to tension something to make it ready.- Example: Armer un pistolet (to cock a pistol).
Parts:
- armer (verb infinitive)
- Conjugated regularly in -er pattern:
- Je arme, tu armes, il/elle arme, nous armons, vous armez, ils/elles arment
The root arm- relates to "arms/weapons," from Latin arma meaning "arms" or "weapons."
Synonyms:
- équiper (to equip)
- munir (to provide, to equip)
- habiliter (to empower, to equip for a duty)
Antonyms:
- désarmer (to disarm, to remove weapons)
- débarrasser (to clear, remove equipment/weapons)
Summary:
"Armer" generally means "to equip or provide weapons," but it can also mean to prepare or ready something, especially in a military or mechanical sense. Its opposite is "désarmer," which means to remove arms or disarm.
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Examples
Certains pensent qu'il faut s'armer face au danger.verb
Some think that one must arm oneself in the face of danger.
Pourquoi cherches‑tu à t'armer si rapidement ?verb
Why are you trying to arm yourself so quickly?
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