The Collaborative International Dictionary
Au fond
Au fond \Au` fond"\ [F., lit., at the bottom.] At bottom; fundamentally; essentially.
Wiktionary
au fond
adv. deep down, in the end
WordNet
au fond
adv. at bottom or by one's (or its) very nature; "He is basically dishonest"; "the argument was essentially a technical one"; "for all his bluster he is in essence a shy person" [syn: basically, fundamentally, essentially, in essence]
Usage examples of "au fond".
My father, who was tired and disgusted with every thing, blase au fond, met the Prince more than half way.