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enrayer

to stop, to check (a process)

verb ahn-reh-YEH Rare
People & Society

Usage Note

Enrayer is used for halting something harmful that is in motion — an epidemic, inflation, or a spiral of violence. Its literal root sense is 'to jam a wheel', which is why it pairs naturally with abstract runaway processes. The noun form is enrayage (jamming, stoppage).

Examples

"Il faut enrayer cette épidémie rapidement."

Natural Translation

We must stop this epidemic quickly.

Literal Translation

It is necessary to check this epidemic quickly.

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