L'esprit du temps
Example: L'esprit du temps influence souvent les décisions politiques majeures.
Definition
"L'esprit du temps" refers to the prevailing cultural, intellectual, and moral climate or mood of a particular period in history. It encapsulates the dominant ideas, beliefs, and attitudes that influence society, often shaping major political and social decisions.
Etymology
The phrase "l'esprit du temps" comes from French, literally meaning 'the spirit of the time.' It combines 'esprit' (spirit or mind) and 'temps' (time), capturing the idea that each era has its own distinctive atmosphere or mindset. Did you know? The concept is closely linked to the German term 'Zeitgeist,' which shares the same meaning.
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"L'esprit du temps" appears in the Vocaplus list "", containing 210 commonly used words.
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the spirit of the times