21:29 Jan 24 

Thanks everyone!

21:17 Jan 24 

I've just read the discussion when this term was asked in FR>DE.

Both "excused" and "impeded" were suggested, but finally the asker reported that she had sought specialist advice, and been informed that this is just a rather concise way of saying that judge so-and-so had sent her/his apologies. so forget my afterthought.

see http://www.proz.com/kudoz/french_to_german/law_general/43168...

20:58 Jan 24 

only related usage I've come across is empêchement, impediment

the question term seems to crop up regularly (in the other sense!) in the context of court rulings/reports, listing the judges etc. who have given their authority or who made up a tribunal.

example: http://france.globe24h.com/lex/judiciaire/001/019/01946/0019...

19:58 Jan 24 

Yes, good thinking! I think it's probably unlikely here, but we certainly must bear the possibility in mind — she could e.g. be in some way be disqualified for a confilict of interests, etc.

On reflection, though, do you think the verb 'empêcher' would have been used in that situation? Seems to me there must be another more appropriate verb for that...?

19:51 Jan 24 

... empêchée were to mean she is prevented from chairing under the rules (e.g. at a board meeting, if she herself were up for re-election)?

no specific basis, just a speculation.

19:44 Jan 24 

Ah yes, exactly — in a formal context where the meaning is unambiguous, we do of course use 'regularly' in the same sense.

Cf. 'a regular guy' — nothing to do with his digestion ;-)

19:43 Jan 24 

Yes, you're right. And obviously "duly detained" won't cut it :)

19:42 Jan 24 

compare "régulièrement constituée", "properly constituted", and even, in more specifically legal contexts, "regularly constituted" (see e.g. http://www.icrc.org/ihl.nsf/WebART/365-570006 )

19:42 Jan 24 

The words are there, but I don't think the sense is. The verb 'impeded' sounds a bit odd used on its own like that, without saying 'from doing something'; and also, 'duly' suggests that 'being impeded' was something desirable, or the intended outcome. "He slammed the door in her face so, duly impeded from entering, she sat and read the paper"

19:39 Jan 24 

And I don't recall having seen it before, but what about "duly impeded"?

19:35 Jan 24 

Thanks for the references Tony. I have never come across this meaning before, now I know it is used in legal parlance. I'll try not to make the same mistake twice:)

19:31 Jan 24 

Can of course mean 'regular' in a temporal sense (as distinct, for example, from 'ponctuel') — but it has another sense in FR that is more tricky to convey in EN, as in being 'en règle' (with your car papers), for example. As Martin says, 'lawfully', 'duly', 'properly,' etc.

In that sense, 'regular' has to be used with care in EN, as the temporal sense tends to be the first that springs to mind — which could end up being comical.

Here's the entry from a pretty basic dico, the R+C:

régulièrement adverbe
a = souvent regularly
il est régulièrement en retard  : he's habitually late

b = uniformément (répartir, disposer) evenly
(progresser) steadily

c = selon les règles properly

élu régulièrement  : properly elected | elected in accordance with the rules

d * = en principe normally
= d'habitude normally, usually

19:29 Jan 24 

I think it's régulièrement as in lawfully, properly, duly; "regular" as in the opposite of "irregular".

19:26 Jan 24 

Call me thick, but why is "régulièrement"
a false friend here? Somebody knows something I don't.

19:12 Jan 24 

@ Tony
Yes, she is busy with another case.

19:09 Jan 24 

The idea here is more or less that she has a legitimate excuse, rather than just pulled a sickie