adjectivenounnoun
crevant
exhausting
Definition & meaning
The word crevant is an adjective used in French with two distinct meanings:
- Exhausting or tiring: It describes something that requires an immense amount of physical or mental effort, leaving a person completely drained. For instance, a "travail crevant" is back-breaking or exhausting work.
- Hilarious: In informal or colloquial French, it describes something that is extremely funny or makes one laugh uncontrollably. The expression "c'est crevant de rire" means that something is "killingly" funny.
Grammar & Word origin
- Grammar: It is the present participle of the verb crever. As an adjective, it functions to describe a noun.
- Origin: The word comes from the Old French crever, which traces back to the Latin crepare (meaning to burst, crack, or rattle). Originally, the term literally meant "bursting" or "dying," which evolved into the figurative sense of being so exhausted one might die, or so amused that one feels like they might burst with laughter.
Synonyms & antonyms
Synonyms:
- For the meaning of exhausting: épuisant, fatiguant, harassant.
- For the meaning of hilarious: hilarant, drôle, marrant.
Antonyms:
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Examples
Ce long voyage est crevant.adjective
This long journey is exhausting.
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