https://www.proz.com/kudoz/french-to-english/philosophy/6859739-au-creux-de.html
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Désenchanteur
en filigrane
Aug 18, 2020 04:32
3 yrs ago
31 viewers *
French term

au creux de

French to English Art/Literary Philosophy
Context:

Elle (la posture dévotionnelle) nous fait nous prosterner devant l’arbre, l’oiseau, le vieillard souriant, l’enfant qui joue… Et cette première révérence, qui préfigure son apogée, n’existe que pour ce que ces derniers portent d’éternel, --- au creux --- de leur imperfection.

"Au creux" is a common phrase in French poetry/literature, and I want to know if there's any equivalent in English.
Proposed translations (English)
4 +5 at the heart of
4 +1 at the core of
3 within
2 in

Discussion

Hugues Roumier (asker) Aug 18, 2020:
@Carol Gullidge What would not work?

"Au creux", in French, is a very poetic and eloquent way to say that a quality/feeling originates at the bottom of the "hollow" which is formed by another quality/feeling. So in this particular case, the beings are certainly imperfect, but in the hollow formed by their imperfection lies their eternity. If the abstract image is not explicit enough, I'm afraid I don't know how to make it more explicit in English
Carol Gullidge Aug 18, 2020:
Hughes, re Creux You say this is commonly used in French, but have omitted to explain your own interpretation and why you feel this would not work in this context.

Proposed translations

+5
2 hrs
Selected

at the heart of

In an another, positive context, nestled would have been a good fit, but it would not fit with 'imperfection'
Peer comment(s):
agree Nicky Over
1 hr
agree Barbara Cochran, MFA
4 hrs
agree Verginia Ophof
5 hrs
agree Eliza Hall
12 hrs
agree Yvonne Gallagher
1 day 7 hrs
Something went wrong...
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Thanks a lot Michael!"
49 mins

in

See the link!
Example sentence:

aux creux de leur imperfection = in (depths of) their imperfection

Reference:

https://en.bab.la/dictionary/french-english/au-creux-de

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+1
8 hrs

at the core of

An alternative.
Peer comment(s):
agree Eliza Hall : This works, though stylistically I happen to prefer "heart" (Michael's answer).
6 hrs
Thanks Eliza
Something went wrong...
9 hrs

within

A more poetic alternative to "in".
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