poindre

Poindre is a French verb meaning to begin to appear, to dawn, or to become visible. It is commonly used with days or lights, as in Le jour va poindre or Une lumière va poindre à l’horizon, conveying the sense that something is gradually coming into view. In modern French, the sense of appearance or emergence is the most frequent, and the verb is often found in literary or formal contexts rather than everyday speech. It can also be extended to describe understanding or awareness beginning to manifest, for example une idée qui commence à poindre.

Usage and nuance: Poindre emphasizes the initial appearance rather than a sudden arrival. It is frequently found in expressions about natural phenomena, such as the dawn of day, or when describing faint signs of something new in a situation, mood, or perception. The verb has a lyrical or elevated tone and may appear in prose, poetry, or historical writing.

Etymology and conjugation: Poindre is an old French verb belonging to the -indre family. It is attested in Middle French and continues to carry a literary flavor in modern usage. Its conjugation is irregular and follows patterns associated with other -indre verbs, such as craindre or peindre. Learners are advised to consult a comprehensive conjugation resource for complete tense-by-tense forms.

See also: French verbs; expressions for dawn and emergence; literary French vocabulary.