sabir

noun

sa·​bir
səˈbi(ə)r
plural -s
: a French-based pidgin language of North Africa

Word History

Etymology

French, from the word for "know" in a concocted lingua franca used by Molière †1673 French playwright in his comedy Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme (1670) as the vehicle of a song (of which the first two lines are Se ti sabir, Ti respondir meaning "if you know, answer"), probably from Spanish saber to know

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Dictionary Entries Near sabir

Cite this Entry

“Sabir.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sabir. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

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