dempêcher

Dempêcher is not a standard entry in French dictionaries. The correct verb is empêcher, meaning to prevent or to hinder. The sequence d'empêcher is a contracted form of de + empêcher and occurs when the infinitive that follows is introduced by a preceding verb that requires de, such as s'efforcer de or s’employer de. In other words, dempêcher as a single word is not correct; the proper spelling uses the apostrophe: d'empêcher.

Etymologically, empêcher derives from Old French empecher, from Latin impedire, with the prefix em- resulting from assimilation of in- before p. The meaning has remained focused on hindering, blocking, or preventing action, events, or outcomes.

Usage and constructions

- d'empêcher is used when an infinitive beginning with empêcher follows a verb that governs de, for example: Il s'efforce d'empêcher que cela se produise. Here, d'empêcher introduces the infinitive that completes the phrase.

- Empêcher can take a direct object or an infinitive with de: Il veut empêcher les fuites. or Il interdit aux employés d'accéder à cette zone.

- Empêcher quelqu'un de faire quelque chose is a commonTransactional pattern: La mesure vise à empêcher les citoyens d’entrer sans autorisation.

Orthography and common errors

- The correct written form is d'empêcher (with an apostrophe), not dempêcher as a single word.

- Mis-spellings often arise in plain text or informal writing, but in standard French, the contracted form is required only when it follows a verb that takes de before an infinitive.

In summary, dempêcher is not standard French; use empêcher for the base verb, and d'empêcher when it appears as the contracted infinitive after a preceding verb like s'efforcer de.