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redresser le travers

English translation: makes up for the peculiarity/irregularity/less than pleasing/less than satisfactory


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GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
French term or phrase:redresser le travers
English translation:makes up for the peculiarity/irregularity/less than pleasing/less than satisfactory
Entered by: lundy
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11:37 Jul 4, 2009
French to English translations [PRO]
Social Sciences - General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters
French term or phrase: redresser le travers
I've gone over and over this and can't figure out the logic. Can you help?

En forme d’hémicycle, la Place Coulanges est close de hauts murs percés de trois portails, dont celui de droite conduit, par l’allée des Lauriers, vers le Parc ou bois de décoration planté par Madame de Sévigné.
Qualifiée par l’épistolière dans une lettre du 26 octobre 1689 de « petit rediseur mot à mot jusque dans l’oreille », la place Coulanges est célèbre pour son écho artificiel et « **redresse le travers** de l’entrée du Parc », comme la châtelaine l’avait précisé à sa fille le 29 mai.
Mary Davis
Local time: 02:08
makes up for the peculiarity/irregularity/less than pleasing/less than satisfactory
Explanation:
I'm wondering if "travers" could not be employed in the "vieilli" definition of the tlf - deviation, irrégularité etc. It's difficult to see on the satellite map (well done Tony!) where the main entrance is although I presume it's off to the left. And even then, I doubt we are seeing it as Mme de Sévigné would have seen it, since there is now a road running alongside. It just seems to me that she didn't particularly appreciate the aspect of the main entrance!
Selected response from:

lundy
France
Local time: 02:08
Grading comment
Thanks so much!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
3 +4makes up for the peculiarity/irregularity/less than pleasing/less than satisfactory
lundy
4makes up for / rights the wrong ofberg
3compensates for the width
Gad Kohenov


Discussion entries: 4





  

Answers


4 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
compensates for the width


Explanation:
compensates for the width of the entrance to the parc.

Gad Kohenov
Local time: 03:08
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in FrenchFrench, Native in HebrewHebrew
PRO pts in category: 4

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  Tony M: Further research has shown that it is probably more about the asymmetry than the actual width.
6 mins
  -> Thanks! I was actually wondering which is best here.
neutral  lundy: I hadn't seen Tony's remark when I posted my offering, but I agree with asymmetry also if you choose that route!
1 hr
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1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +4
makes up for the peculiarity/irregularity/less than pleasing/less than satisfactory


Explanation:
I'm wondering if "travers" could not be employed in the "vieilli" definition of the tlf - deviation, irrégularité etc. It's difficult to see on the satellite map (well done Tony!) where the main entrance is although I presume it's off to the left. And even then, I doubt we are seeing it as Mme de Sévigné would have seen it, since there is now a road running alongside. It just seems to me that she didn't particularly appreciate the aspect of the main entrance!


    Reference: http://www.atilf.atilf.fr
lundy
France
Local time: 02:08
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 36
Grading comment
Thanks so much!
Notes to answerer
Asker: That's totally what I thought at first but my husband (French) disagreed! I'm glad to have the input of other linguists...


Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Tony M: I don't think it's the main entrance (which is the other side of the chateau, as far as I can see), but rather, the boundary between the 'formal gardens' and the wider 'park' — visible from the château itself, of course.
3 mins
  -> Thanks Tony
agree  Dr Lofthouse
5 hrs
  -> Thank you!
agree  André Vanasse
12 hrs
  -> Thanks André!
agree  Emma Paulay: This is how I read it too; "travers" as in "tort". It makes up for the failings of the park entrance.
1 day16 hrs
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2 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
makes up for / rights the wrong of


Explanation:
in a way the echo makes up for the entrance being askew

berg
United Kingdom
Local time: 01:08
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in FrenchFrench
PRO pts in category: 8
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Changes made by editors
Jul 6, 2009 - Changes made by lundy:
Created KOG entryKudoZ term => KOG term


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