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la forme propre de

English translation: the characteristic/distinctive form

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
French term or phrase:la forme propre de
English translation:the characteristic/distinctive form
Entered by: angela3thomas

23:35 Jul 30, 2017
French to English translations [Non-PRO]
Art/Literary - Archaeology / ancient art
French term or phrase: la forme propre de
Hi again!
DOC: 1907 Museum catalog of ancient Egyptian mirrors.
CONTEXT: Miroirs solaires. - Le modèle le plus ordinaire, on peut même dire de prédilection, du miroir égyptien est le solaire. Par là il faut entendre cette disposition oblongue qui n'est ni circulaire ni elliptique, mais qu'il n'est pas nécessaire d'être grand observateur, pour reconnaître comme l'aspect sous lequel se présente le soleil au-dessus de la ligne de l'horizon, soit qu'il y rentre, soit qu'il en sorte. Les Égyptiens y avaient à ce point retrouvé ***la forme propre du*** disque solaire que tous les dieux solaires depuis Râ et ses dérivés jusqu'aux divinités que les théologiens solarisèrent pour les faire entrer dans le cadre de l'ennéade héliopolitaine, le portent comme coiffure ou comme principal accessoire de leur coiffure.
ATTEMPT: The Egyptians had captured in this [=oblong configuration] ***a form of the solar disk so accurate*** that all the solar gods, from Ra and his manifestations to the deities whom the theologians solarized in order to bring them into the cadre of the Heliopolitan Ennead, wear it as a headdress or as a principal accessory of their headdress.
ISSUE: I had much help from WordRef, but would like to understand better and be more adept at translating this "propre" in my particular context.
Thanks in advance!
angela3thomas
United States
the characteristic/distinctive form
Explanation:
A couple of options.
Selected response from:

Barbara Cochran, MFA
United States
Local time: 19:20
Grading comment
Again, this was difficult to choose because both answers are excellent and helpful. But I think this wording fits my text better. Thank you all!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
3 +2the characteristic/distinctive form
Barbara Cochran, MFA
3the perfect form
Dareth Pray


  

Answers


40 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +2
the characteristic/distinctive form


Explanation:
A couple of options.

Barbara Cochran, MFA
United States
Local time: 19:20
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
Grading comment
Again, this was difficult to choose because both answers are excellent and helpful. But I think this wording fits my text better. Thank you all!

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Tony M
6 hrs
  -> Thanks, Tony.
agree  Nikki Scott-Despaigne: characteristic
7 hrs
  -> Thanks, Nikki.
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
the perfect form


Explanation:
First, I see "y retrouver" here more so as "find" rather than capture. I think that they are saying that the Egyptians found in this shape the perfect embodiment of the solar disk, which they then proceeded to use in all depictions of the solar gods.

Second, I don't see "propre" as "accurate" in this case. I think they are using it in the sense of, "the very form of," i.e. the embodiment of this form itself, in other words, the perfect form, the definitive form, etc. Or something like what Barbara suggested.

Dareth Pray
United States
Local time: 16:20
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 4
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