Glossary entry (derived from question below)
French term or phrase:
fort à propos absent
English translation:
conveniently absent
Added to glossary by
Ingeborg Gowans (X)
Feb 14, 2008 21:08
16 yrs ago
2 viewers *
French term
United States
Laudable Lady Linguist
Native in: English 
Works in: Spanish to English, French to English, English to Spanish, and 3 more.
fort à propos
French to English
Art/Literary
History
History Book
Contexte:
"Entre-temps, le cistercien Suger était devenu tout puissant à la cour de France. Il prit la régence en 1146, en l'absence du roi parti **fort à propos** en croisade."
Merci!
femme
"Entre-temps, le cistercien Suger était devenu tout puissant à la cour de France. Il prit la régence en 1146, en l'absence du roi parti **fort à propos** en croisade."
Merci!
femme
Proposed translations
(English)
Change log
Feb 21, 2008 11:42: Ingeborg Gowans (X) Created KOG entry
Proposed translations
+4
48 mins
Selected
while the king was conveniently absent , on a crusade / most likely on a crusade
born 1081, near Paris — died Jan. 13, 1151) Abbot of Saint-Denis and adviser to Louis VI and Louis VII. A peasant boy educated at the abbey of Saint-Denis, he was a schoolmate and close friend of the future Louis VI. In 1122 he was elected abbot, and he used popular veneration for the saint and for the church's banner to rally military support for the king. Suger's work on the church of Saint-Denis was instrumental in the development of Gothic architecture. He arranged a treaty ending the civil war between Louis VII and his vassal Thibaut, and he served as regent (1147 – 49) while the king was away on the Second Crusade.
For more information on Suger, visit Britannica.com.
via leo/French/German German English "gelegen" in erman, meaning convenient ; not sure this is totally correct, but it would make sense from the context here I hope it helps a BIT
For more information on Suger, visit Britannica.com.
via leo/French/German German English "gelegen" in erman, meaning convenient ; not sure this is totally correct, but it would make sense from the context here I hope it helps a BIT
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Xia29
: "conveniently on a crusade" works well here
2 hrs
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thanks, xia29
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| agree |
sporran
3 hrs
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merci, sporran
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| agree |
Mary Carroll Richer LaFlèche
9 hrs
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merci, Mary
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| agree |
Anne Girardeau
: yes, conveniently!
1 day 16 hrs
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thanks, Anne
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4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Mnay thanks, Ingeborg!"
41 mins
was fortuitous
The king's departure occured at exactly the right time.
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Note added at 47 mins (2008-02-14 21:55:52 GMT)
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On reflexion, fortuitous only implies chance, so one might need to reinforce the fact the the chance of him leaving at this time was beneficial to the consolidation of power by Suger.
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Note added at 47 mins (2008-02-14 21:55:52 GMT)
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On reflexion, fortuitous only implies chance, so one might need to reinforce the fact the the chance of him leaving at this time was beneficial to the consolidation of power by Suger.
3 hrs
timely, well-timed
À(-)propos, subst. masc.
1. Vieilli. Caractère de ce qui vient à point nommé, opportunité.
Retrieved from: http://www.cnrtl.fr/lexicographie/propos
"fort" is added to reinforce the meaning, maybe "very" or "really"
1. Vieilli. Caractère de ce qui vient à point nommé, opportunité.
Retrieved from: http://www.cnrtl.fr/lexicographie/propos
"fort" is added to reinforce the meaning, maybe "very" or "really"
Reference:
10 hrs
Kari Foster
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
Native in English
United Kingdom
Technical knowledge, attention to detail
Native in: English
Works in: French to English, Italian to English, German to English, and 1 more.
possible different interpretation
I understand not only that the king's absence was perhaps well timed, but that the author is also saying 'what an amusingly apt coincidence that he happened to be off on a religious crusade when Suger (a clergyman) took advantage of the situation'. So, not just a matter of timing, but the NATURE of his trip was 'à propos'.
"Fittingly, the king happened to be away on a crusade when Suger..."
"Fittingly, the king happened to be away on a crusade when Suger..."
11 hrs
fortuitously
"fort a propos" perhaps most simply rendered as "fortuitously"
16 hrs
Christopher Crockett
Native in English
Specializes in field
M.A., Ph.D. Historian/Art Historian
Native in: English
Works in: French to English, English
Related KudoZ points
:
100
took the opportunity
Once again with this author, one is tempted to correct his foolish, sloppy thinking rather than just giving him a straight translation.
Calling Suger a "cistercien" [which should be capitalized in English, btw] is a real Howler (say, this isn't a StandUp comedy routine, is it?), but almost as bad is implying that he had anything to do with Louis VII's going on crusade so that he could "take the Regency."
On the contrary, the sources make it pretty clear that the aging Suger was quite reluctant to be (btw) *co-*regent (with the king's kinsman).
Calling Suger a "cistercien" [which should be capitalized in English, btw] is a real Howler (say, this isn't a StandUp comedy routine, is it?), but almost as bad is implying that he had anything to do with Louis VII's going on crusade so that he could "take the Regency."
On the contrary, the sources make it pretty clear that the aging Suger was quite reluctant to be (btw) *co-*regent (with the king's kinsman).
Discussion