échec

Meaning

Opposite of
réussite, succès
Frequency

B2
Pronounced as (IPA)
/e.ʃɛk/
Etymology

In summary

Inherited from Old French eschec, from Medieval Latin scaccus, from Arabic شَاه (šāh, “king or check at chess, shah”), from Classical Persian شاه (šāh, “king”), from Middle Persian 𐭬𐭫𐭪𐭠 (mlkʾ /⁠šāh⁠/), from Old Persian 𐏋 (XŠ /⁠xšāyaθiya⁠/, “king”), from Proto-Indo-Iranian *kšáyati (“he rules, he has power over”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *tek- (“to receive”). See also French mat.

Notes

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