esma

Catalan

Alternative forms

Etymology

From esme, from obsolete aesmar (“to estimate, value”, verb).

Pronunciation

Noun

esma m or f (plural esmes)

  1. rote (mechanical routine); skill with mindless tasks
    d'esma ― mechanically; mindlessly
    • 2002, Albert Sánchez Piñol, chapter 8, in La pell freda, La Campana, →ISBN:
      Tot es feia amb gestos mecànics. Si parlàvem era amb l'esma d'actors mediocres que reciten un text ensopit.
      Everything was done with mechanical gestures. When we talked it sounded like mediocre actors mindlessly rehearsing a dull text.
  2. good sense, good judgment
  3. strength, courage
    Synonyms: força, coratge
    • 2002, Albert Sánchez Piñol, chapter 11, in La pell freda, La Campana, →ISBN:
      –On dimonis va ara? –em va recriminar en Batís. No tenia esma ni per contestar.
      “Where the hell are you going now?”, Batís reproached. I didn't even have the strength to reply.

Derived terms

Further reading
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