Enfermer (en. Lock up)

/ɑ̃.fɛʁ.me/

Meaning & Definition

EnglishFrench

verb

To place a person or an animal in a location from which they cannot escape.

The guard had to lock the thief in the cell.

Le gardien a dû enfermer le voleur dans la cellule.

To keep in a confined space.

She locked her memories in a photo album.

Elle a enfermé ses souvenirs dans un album photo.

To limit a person's freedom.

They locked the suspect during the investigation.

Ils ont enfermé le suspect pendant l'enquête.

To close an object in a container.

He locked the important document in a drawer.

Il a enfermé le document important dans un tiroir.

From the Latin 'infirmare' meaning 'to make ill', referring to the idea of confinement.

to lock up

To put a lock on a door to prevent access.

enfermer à clé

to shut oneself up in silence

To choose not to communicate with others.

s'enfermer dans le silence

to keep a secret

To keep information hidden and secret.

enfermer un secret

confinement

Action of keeping someone inside a confined space.

confinement

closure

Action of closing something, especially a door or window.

fermeture

to fence in

Action of putting a fence around a land or area.

clôturer

To put someone aside excessively.

When he is angry, he tends to lock his friends out.

Quand il est fâché, il a tendance à enfermer ses amis.

To exclude someone from a social group.

He shut himself off after his failure.

Il s'est enfermé lui-même après son échec.