réprésenter

The French verb "représenter" is a versatile word with several distinct meanings. Its most common translation into English is "to represent," which encompasses a range of actions. It can mean to act on behalf of someone or something, as in a lawyer representing a client or a country representing its people in an international forum. It also signifies to symbolize or stand for something, such as a dove representing peace or a figure representing a mathematical concept.

Another important meaning of "représenter" is to depict or portray, particularly in an artistic context. A painting can represent a landscape, or an actor can represent a character in a play. This sense also extends to describing or showing something, like a graph representing data or a statistic representing a trend. Furthermore, "représenter" can mean to be the equivalent of or to amount to, for instance, a sum of money representing a significant portion of an income.

The verb can also be used in a more abstract sense, meaning to bring to mind or recall, such as when a smell represents a past memory. In formal settings, it can refer to presenting something, like presenting a report or a proposal. The specific nuance of "représenter" is often determined by the surrounding context, making it a highly adaptable and frequently used verb in the French language.