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cafard

noun
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ca·​fard | \ kȧfȧr \
plural -s

Definition of cafard

: severe depression or apathy —used especially of white people in the tropics

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First Known Use of cafard

1915, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for cafard

French, literally, cockroach, from Middle French, cockroach, hypocrite, modification of Arabic kāfir infidel

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The first known use of cafard was in 1915

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Cite this Entry

“Cafard.” The Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster Inc., https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cafard. Accessed 17 January 2020.

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