enceinte

Definition & meaning

The word enceinte has two primary meanings in French:

1. Pregnant: Used as an adjective, it describes a woman who is expecting a child. It is used exclusively for human beings.
2. Enclosure or Perimeter: Used as a feminine noun, it refers to a surrounding wall, a fortified enclosure, or the space enclosed by such a structure (e.g., the walls of a city, a castle, or a sports stadium).
3. Loudspeaker: Used as a feminine noun in a technical context, it refers to a speaker unit used for sound reproduction.

Grammar & Word origin

• Grammar:
  • As an adjective, it is invariable (always feminine, as it only applies to women).
  • As a noun, it is feminine (une enceinte, des enceintes).
• Word origin:
  • The adjective derives from the Latin incincta, meaning "ungirded," implying that a pregnant woman no longer wears a belt.
  • The noun derives from the Old French enceindre, meaning "to surround" or "to gird," originating from the Latin incingere.

Synonyms & antonyms

As an adjective (pregnant):

• Synonyms: grosse ↗, attendre un enfant ↗, en état ↗

As a noun (enclosure):

• Synonyms: muraille ↗, clôture ↗, périmètre ↗

As a noun (loudspeaker):

• Synonyms: haut-parleur ↗

Antonyms:

• For the adjective: stérile ↗ (in terms of fertility) or non enceinte.
• For the noun (enclosure): ouverture ↗