au fond

[oh fawn]

adverb

French.

1. at bottom or to the bottom; basically; in reality; fundamentally.

au fond

/ o fɔ̃ /

adverb

1. fundamentally; essentially

Word History and Origins

Origin of au fond¹

First recorded in 1780–90

Word History and Origins

Origin of au fond¹

literally: at the bottom

Example Sentences

“On other days I shrug off this high moral tone. Am I not, au fond, merely a dealer in sordid gossip?”

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And with the embattled Mr. Kwiecien before his departure, he brought great heaps of lyricism and pathos to the bromance duet “Au fond du temple saint.”

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The theme, and its marketing, placed Paul Cézanne’s 1902-6 watercolor “Baigneuses, la Montagne Ste.-Victoire au Fond,” as the cover lot of the catalog.

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In a moving juxtaposition of youthful and mature artistry, tenor Joshua Guerrero melded his sound with Domingo’s during the famously pleasing “Au fond du temple saint” from Bizet’s “The Pearl Fishers.”

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Lately, however, he’s gotten new vibrancy, and in “Pearl Fishers” he was passionate yet focused, ardently blending with Mr. Kwiecien in their soaring duet, “Au fond du temple saint.”

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