feuilletter

Feuilletter is a French verb that translates to "to leaf through" or "to turn the pages of" a book or document. It describes the action of casually looking through something, often without reading it in detail. The verb implies a gentle and somewhat unhurried examination of the pages.

The term can be used in a literal sense when referring to physically handling a book or stack of papers. For example, someone might feuillet their notebook to find a specific note or feuillet a magazine to see what articles it contains. Beyond the physical act, feuillet can also be used metaphorically. One might say they are "feuilletant leur mémoire" (leafing through their memory) to recall past events.

The etymology of feuilletter comes from the French word "feuille," meaning "leaf" or "sheet." The "-etter" suffix often denotes a diminutive or a repetitive action, reinforcing the idea of turning individual leaves or sheets. The verb is commonly encountered in literature and everyday conversation in French-speaking contexts. It conveys a sense of browsing, skimming, or a cursory review rather than deep engagement with the content.