"le seau des véreuses" is translated as "worm-eaten ones' bucket" but does not véreuse mean unreliable/doubtful?

MARTIN B.A1Kwiziq community member

"le seau des véreuses" is translated as "worm-eaten ones' bucket" but does not véreuse mean unreliable/doubtful?

Asked 11 months ago
CécileNative French expert teacher in KwiziqCorrect answer

Hi Martin,

Thank you for pointing this out, the English has been changed, hope you like it better.

Bonne Continuation !

 

 

Maarten K.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

Martin, ‘ véreux/se ‘ has a figurative sense as you note indicating dubious character. 

It also has a primary meaning translating to English as wormy/maggot-ridden etc as translated in the context in the transcript. The adjective derives from the noun ‘ le ver (les vers) ‘.

Another example from Larousse eg une poire véreuse

 https://www.larousse.fr/dictionnaires/francais/véreux/81506

 https://www.larousse.fr/dictionnaires/francais/ver/81461

 https://www.wordreference.com/fren/vereuse

CécileNative French expert teacher in Kwiziq

Hi Martin, 

Just to add to what Maarten has said, here we are talking of chestnuts that have been damaged by worms.

I am not sure whether the English translation is very elegant so will query it and come back to you. Maybe 'the bucket for grubby ones' may be more apt.

 

Maarten K.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

Cécile, it is certainly not the way I would express it in English !

If wanting to keep the ‘worm’ reference specifically, ‘ the bucket for the wormy ones ‘ would be one way that sounds more natural to me. 

"le seau des véreuses" is translated as "worm-eaten ones' bucket" but does not véreuse mean unreliable/doubtful?

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