Glossary entry

French term or phrase:

abonder dans le Souffle

English translation:

to be filled with the Spirit

Added to glossary by B D Finch
Feb 1, 2008 12:10
16 yrs ago
3 viewers *
French term

abonder

French to English Social Sciences History
As you may remember from previous questions, I am finishing up a large project of a series of articles about Emir Abdelkarder, written by academics, political leaders, artists, and so on. All have been fairly weighty, but quite straightforward, until this last one written by a so-called "novelist" who has me wanting to tear my hair out and scream :-(

I am in the rereading stage, and would like your thoughts as to how you interpret various snippets of her writing.
Many thanks in advance for your brainstorming ideas - even something you might consider far-fetched is bound to help.

In this particular segment, I'm having trouble with "abonder". Can one suddenly abound in something? Or more the idea that he is suddenly prevalent in the Souffle? How can I word this better?

Si Abdelkader réclame son élargissement en arrivant à Amboise à la fin de l’année 1849, sa pensée s’est pourtant déjà émancipée des cadres matériel et politique pour rejoindre la perspective infinie de l’Être. Il a rompu avec « le vieil homme » qu’il était, selon l’expression chrétienne, au seuil du Tout Autre : il fallait en effet qu’Abdelkader fut mort à lui-même pour se donner à l’inspiration de l’exil et **abonder** soudain dans le Souffle, hors des temps et des lieux. Pour que l’homme saillant, admirable et reconnu de tous, puisse naître à la pluralité vivante où l’Un murmure.
Change log

Feb 2, 2008 15:42: B D Finch Created KOG entry

Discussion

B D Finch Feb 1, 2008:
Re juliebarba's note, if that is how it should be read, then shouldn't there be a comma after "soudain"?
Julie Barber Feb 1, 2008:
or maybe not....looking at BD's... ;-)
Julie Barber Feb 1, 2008:
Hi Mara, isn't it more "abonder hors des temps et des lieux"?

Proposed translations

19 mins
Selected

to be filled

Changing the preposition: to be filled with the Spirit.
Something went wrong...
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Thanks to everyone for your helpful answers. I think Carol's would have worked nicely as well, but this one tied in with an image that cropped up later in the text. Many thanks again."
1 hr

abonder dans -> to be in total harmony with; to be at one with

Collins Robert: abonder dans = to be in complete agreement with
"Il a abondé dans notre sens = he was in complete agreement with us"

I think this is almost certainly the sense that is intended here.

Something went wrong...
5 hrs

to be plentiful / to be full of

Etre rempli par l'Esprit, par le Souffle...
Something went wrong...
Term search
  • All of ProZ.com
  • Term search
  • Jobs
  • Forums
  • Multiple search