arrière-pensée

[ a-ryer-pahn-sey ]

/ a ryɛr pɑ̃ˈseɪ /

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noun, plural ar·rière-pen·sées

[a-ryer-pahn-sey]. /a ryɛr pɑ̃ˈseɪ/. French.

a mental reservation; hidden motive.

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Words nearby arrière-pensée

arricciato, arriccio, arride, arrière-ban, arrière-garde, arrière-pensée, Ar Rimal, arris, arrish, arrival, arrive

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How to use arrière-pensée in a sentence

The repetition of thought (in the rime) is correct; the F. text repeats pensee.
Chaucer's Works, Volume 1 (of 7) -- Romaunt of the Rose; Minor Poems|Geoffrey Chaucer
I fancy she entertains an 'arriere' idea of proposing her flawless niece Gracey, Marchioness of Fencaster, to present you.
Lord Ormont and his Aminta, Complete|George Meredith
There was an arriere pensee here too, born in the minds of northern capitalists.
The Negro in the South|Booker T. Washington
For myself, I am glad now that I never saw the city that was; for I can love the city that is with no arriere pensee.
The Californiacs|Inez Haynes Irwin

Here we have the "Arriere pensee" clue, that is, the clue in mental reservation; and here we meet the axiom.
The Christian Foundation, Or, Scientific and Religious Journal,|Various

British Dictionary definitions for arrière-pensée

arrière-pensée

/ French (arjɛrpɑ̃se) /

noun

an unrevealed thought or intention

Word Origin for arrière-pensée

C19: literally: behind thought

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012