verb/e.pu.vɑ̃.te/
to terrify, horrify
Synonyms: horrifier, terrifier
Related: épouvantable, épouvantail, épouvante
Inherited from Old French espoenter, from Vulgar Latin *expaventāre, derived from the present participle of Classical Latin expaveō. Compare Occitan, Catalan, Spanish, and Portuguese espantar, Italian spaventare, also Romanian înspăimânta.