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cingler

lash, sting

verb san-GLEH Less Common
Descriptions & Qualities Manner

Also means

sail (a ship)

Usage Note

Cingler covers both a sharp physical sting — like a whip or cold wind — and sailing toward a destination. The adjectival form cinglant ('stinging, biting') is more common in everyday writing, describing a cutting remark or bitter cold.

Examples

"Le vent cinglait son visage."

Natural Translation

The wind stung his face.

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