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étayer
A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., acheter).
a. to prop up
Il est important d'étayer la structure à l'aide de poteaux provisoires lors du remplacement d'une poutre porteuse.It's important to prop up the structure with temporary posts when replacing a load-bearing beam.
b. to shore up
Pour étayer le mur, les ouvriers ont utilisé des poutres en bois.To shore up the wall, the workers used wooden beams.
2. (figurative) (to defend an opinion)
A phrase used as a figure of speech or a word that is symbolic in meaning (e.g., to pull someone's leg).
a. to support
Christophe a de bonnes preuves pour étayer son argument.Christophe has some good evidence to support his argument.
b. to back up
Ce chercheur ne dispose pas de données suffisantes pour étayer son affirmation.This researcher lacks sufficient data to back up his claim.
Conjugations
Indicative of "étayer"
Irregularities are in red
Present | Imperfect | Past Historic | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| j' | ||||
| tu | ||||
| il/elle | ||||
| nous | ||||
| vous | ||||
| ils/elles |
Collins French Verb Conjugation Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2023
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