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gratuite

English translation: wanton

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French term or phrase:	gratuite
English translation:	wanton
Entered by:	Elena Robert

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20:44 Mar 12, 2006

French to English translations [PRO]
General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters / French Revolution

French term or phrase: gratuite

...douze colonnes incendiaires. Celles-ci entreprennent, à partir de janvier 1794, l’extermination, ***gratuite*** et délibérée, de la population de la Vendée.

I understand the meaning, but am not sure about the best way to render it in this context.

Elena Robert KudoZ activity Questions: 381 (1 open) (28 closed without grading) Answers: 395 France
Local time: 02:59

wanton

Explanation:
… and I think it would be better to swap them round: 'deliberate and wanton'

Selected response from:

Chris More
France
Local time: 02:59

Grading comment

Thank you very much!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer

Summary of answers provided

5 +11

wanton

Chris More

2 +6

gratuitously

Jonathan MacKerron

5 +2

gratuitous

Carol Gullidge

4 +2

unjustified

Chris Pott

mindless

mediamatrix

4 +1

comment

Bourth

wanton/ unnecessary

Debbie Tacium Ladry

Answers

2 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +6

gratuitously

Explanation:
to get things rolling

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Note added at 3 mins (2006-03-12 20:47:36 GMT)
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unwarranted

Jonathan MacKerron
Germany
Local time: 02:59
Native speaker of:

English
PRO pts in category: 13

8 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +11

wanton

Explanation:
… and I think it would be better to swap them round: 'deliberate and wanton'

Chris More
France
Local time: 02:59
Native speaker of:

English
PRO pts in category: 4

Grading comment

Thank you very much!

13 mins confidence:

mindless

Explanation:
... the premeditated, mindless extermination of the ...

mediamatrix
Chile
Local time: 22:59
Native speaker of:

English
PRO pts in category: 19

15 mins confidence:

wanton/ unnecessary

Explanation:
more suggestions...

Debbie Tacium Ladry
Canada
Local time: 20:59
Works in field
Native speaker of:

English

23 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +2

gratuitous

Explanation:
"the gratuitous and deliberate extermination..."

(just one of several possiblities)

Carol Gullidge
United Kingdom
Local time: 01:59
Specializes in field
Native speaker of:

English
PRO pts in category: 64

41 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +2

unjustified

Explanation:
Cheers

Chris Pott
United Kingdom
Local time: 01:59
Specializes in field
Native speaker of:

English
PRO pts in category: 7

50 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +1

comment

Explanation:
I think this is a case where different overlappings of meanings between French and English means you have to be careful in choosing your adjectives.

"Wanton" already has a notion of "intent, deliberateness", so to repeat "deliberate" is pointless.

"wanton - 3. senseless, unprovoked, unjustifiable, or DELIBERATELY malicious ..."

Possibly "wanton" is sufficient. Otherwise the obvious "deliberate" could well be replaced by something like "orchestrated", if the implication is that the people doing the extermination were set to the task by a higher authority.

"orchestrated wanton extermination". Which reminds me, that Slob. Milosevic is dead, none too soon. Plus ça change, plus ça reste la même chose.

Bourth
France
Local time: 02:59
Native speaker of:

English
PRO pts in category: 139