à terre, on the ground or floor

dame ! My word ! You may believe me ! (Cf L. Hcrclc ! = By Hercules. ) This interjection is a form of affirmation, and, accordiug to M. Littré, it is not a contraction of Notre-Dame (= By our Lady !), Vint the exclamative use of the masculine substantive dame, derived from L. dominus, as dame, f., is derived from the L. domina. Cf. Dampierre ( — Dame Pierre), etc. ; O.F. Dame Dieu, Sire

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Dieu = Lord ! *iiow Seigneur Dieu, or simply seigneur I dame 1

SI. 1. Je voulus tenir bon = I resolved and tried to hold out, to be lirni.