choyer

French

Etymology

From Old French chuer, ultimately from Vulgar Latin cavicare.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ʃwa.je/
  • Audio:(file)
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Verb

choyer

  1. (transitive) to cherish, pamper, coddle (care for with affection and tenderness)
    Synonym: dorloter
    • 1857, Gustave Flaubert, Madame Bovary [][1], Paris: Michel Lévy Frères:
      Il pouvait changer maintenant les heures de ses repas, rentrer ou sortir sans donner de raisons, et, lorsqu'il était bien fatigué, s'étendre de ses quatre membres, tout en large, dans son lit. Donc, il se choya, se dorlota et accepta les consolations qu'on lui donnait.
      (please add an English translation of this quotation)
  2. (transitive) to hold in great esteem, revere, going to great lengths to demonstrate this
  3. (transitive) to cherish, treasure, conserve with great care

Conjugation

This verb is part of a large group of -er verbs that conjugate like noyer or ennuyer. These verbs always replace the 'y' with an 'i' before a silent 'e'.

Further reading