arrière-pensée

[ a-ryer-pahn-sey ]

noun

, French.

, plural ar·rière-pen·sées [a, -, r, ye, r, -pah, n, -, sey].

1. a mental reservation; hidden motive.

arrière-pensée

/ arjɛrpɑ̃se /

noun

1. an unrevealed thought or intention

Word History and Origins

Origin of arrière-pensée¹

C19: literally: behind thought

Example Sentences

There was an arriere pensee here too, born in the minds of northern capitalists.

From Project Gutenberg

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.

From Project Gutenberg

Here we have the "Arriere pensee" clue, that is, the clue in mental reservation; and here we meet the axiom.

From Project Gutenberg

A savage will not assist in packing them, for he fears their heels: the Swiss say mules have always an arriere-pensee.

From Project Gutenberg

Baroness Dinati was therefore wrong to suspect old Yanski Varhely of any 'arriere-pensee'.

From Project Gutenberg