débarrasser

The verb “débarrasser” is a regular -er conjugation verb that means “to clear or remove what clutters or obstructs.” It is also used in its pronominal form, “se débarrasser”, which means “to get rid of.”

Meaning and Usage

  1. “Débarrasser” (transitive): means to clear or remove something from a surface or place.
    • Can you clear the table, please? (remove plates, cutlery, etc.)
    • You need to clear the desk of all this clutter. (remove what is obstructing it)
  2. “Se débarrasser de” (pronominal): means to rid oneself of something or someone.
    • He is trying to get rid of his old belongings. (dispose of useless objects)
    • She wants to get rid of this bad habit. (stop a habit)
    • The king got rid of his political enemies. (eliminate troublesome people)

Conjugation of “Débarrasser”

The verb “débarrasser” follows the regular conjugation pattern of first-group verbs.

Present Tense:

“Débarrasser”“Se débarrasser”
je débarrasseje me débarrasse
tu débarrassestu te débarrasses
il débarrasseil se débarrasse
nous débarrassonsnous nous débarrassons
vous débarrassezvous vous débarrassez
ils débarrassentils se débarrassent

Past Tense (Passé Composé):

“Débarrasser”“Se débarrasser”
j’ai débarrasséje me suis débarrassé
tu as débarrassétu t’es débarrassé
il a débarrasséils s’est débarrassé
nous avons débarrassénous nous sommes débarrassés
vous avez débarrassévous vous êtes débarrassés
ils ont débarrasséils se sont débarrassés

Note: With “se débarrasser,” the past participle agrees with the subject in number and gender (e.g., We got of the the platesNous nous sommes débarrassés des assiettes; She got rid of her coatElle s’est débarrassée de son manteau, ).

Etymology

The verb “débarrasser” comes from Old French “desbarrasser”, derived from the prefix “des-“ (indicating removal) and “barras”, which meant “obstacle” or “barrier.” “Barras” itself has Occitan and Old French roots.

Common Expressions

  • Se débarrasser d’un poids → To relieve oneself of a burden.
  • Se débarrasser d’un intrus → To get rid of an unwanted person.
  • Débarrasser le plancher (informal) → To leave quickly.

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