insu

Inherited from Middle French adjective insceu (“unknown”), corresponding to in- +‎ su.

• IPA^(key): /ɛ̃.sy/

• Audio (Canada):

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insu m (uncountable)

1. (in set phrases) ignorance

   Il était content à son insu.

   He was happy without realising it.

This noun is now found only in the construction à l’insu de … (“unbeknownst to …, without …’s knowledge”), or, if the object is a personal pronoun, à [possessive pronoun] insu (“unbeknownst to [objective pronoun], without [possessive pronoun] knowledge”).

• “insu”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012.

• nuis, unis