souterrain
See also: Souterrain
English
Etymology
From French souterrain, from sous (“under”) + terrain (“ground”).
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ˈsuːtəɹeɪn/
Noun
souterrain (plural souterrains)
- (archaeology) An underground chamber or passage sometimes used as a store, especially one associated with Iron Age settlements.
- 1885, Sir Richard Burton, The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night, Night 11
- Now when my son saw that I separated them, he secretly built this souterrain and furnished it and transported to it victuals, even as thou seest; and, when I had gone out a-sporting, came here with his sister and hid from me.
- 1885, Sir Richard Burton, The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night, Night 11
Dutch
Etymology
Borrowed from French souterrain.
Pronunciation
Audio (file) - Hyphenation: sou‧ter‧rain
Noun
souterrain n (plural souterrains, diminutive souterraintje n)
- basement, cellar
French
Etymology
sou- + terrain, based on the model of Latin subterraneus.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /su.tɛ.ʁɛ̃/, /su.te.ʁɛ̃/
Audio (file)
Adjective
souterrain (feminine souterraine, masculine plural souterrains, feminine plural souterraines)
- underground
- Hyponyms: endogé, hypogé
Derived terms
- économie souterraine
Noun
souterrain m (plural souterrains)
- underground passage, tunnel
Descendants
- → English: souterrain
- → Dutch: souterrain
Further reading
- “souterrain”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012.
Anagrams
- retournais, tournerais