un mécène

ByFast French

“Un mécène” is not a saying, but a normal French word with an ancient origin.

The French word “un mécène” means a sponsor or a benefactor, usually of the arts or sometimes of the sciences. It can refer to a person or an enterprise who provides such sponsorship or funding to artistic/scientific individuals or organisations.

It comes from the name of an imperial minister in Ancient Rome, Maecenas. Maecenas served Caesar Augustus, the first Roman Emperor. Maecenas is called “Mécène” in French. He was known for his protection of artists, writers and scientists in the early Roman Empire.

The term “un mécène” was first used in 1526 in French and in those days was spelled “mécénas” not “mécène.”

Don’t miss out on new posts – subscribe now!

Similar Posts

voici & voilà

voici & voilà

ByFast French

Even if you don’t know any French, you may already be familiar with the French words “voici” and “voilà.” “Voici” means “here is,” “here are,” “this is,” or “these are.” “Voilà” has a slightly different meaning, translating to “there is,” “there are,” “that is,” or “those are.” “Voici” comes from the Middle French “voicy,” which…

cour, cours & court

cour, cours & court

ByFast French

These three French words are pronounced the same, despite their slightly different spellings. “La cour” (Feminine Noun) Meaning: “la cour” as a feminine noun translates to “courtyard” in English. It represents an open space, typically enclosed by buildings or walls, found within a home, castle, or other architectural structures. Courtyards often serve as central gathering…

verb: s’attendre à
| | |

verb: s’attendre à

ByFast French

The French verb “s’attendre à” means “to expect” or “to anticipate.” “S’attendre à” vs. “Attendre” The primary difference between “s’attendre à” and “attendre” is that “s’attendre à” is reflexive (or “pronominal” as we say in French) and “attendre” is not. While “attendre” means “to wait for” or “to await,” “s’attendre à” means “to expect” or…

maint

maint

ByFast French

The French adjective “maint” means “many,” “many a,” “numerous” or “manifold.” It is a little archaic and is most commonly used in a literary way, although some still use it in everyday speech. People tend to prefer more modern words such as “beaucoup,” “nombreux,” “plusieurs,” or more familiarly, “plein de.” As an adjective, “maint” must…

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *