What does “rythmer” mean in French?

You know rythme as the noun “rhythm.” The verb rythmer means “to set the pace of” — to give shape to something through repeating beats. So les combats rythment la vie means the fights “give rhythm to” life: they are the events that break up the time and mark each part of it. French uses this verb for days, seasons, or stories that are given shape by repeating moments.

In the narration: “leurs monstrueux combats rythment la vie de la terre” — “their monstrous battles set the rhythm of life on Earth.” The fights are not just violent; they are the steady, repeating beats that mark each time period. Rythmer is built from rythme (rhythm) plus the regular -er ending. It is common in everyday and news French. Close cousins are cadencer (to set a cadence) and marquer (to mark). You will hear it often once you notice it: “les saisons rythment la vie à la campagne” (the seasons set the pace of country life), “des pauses café rythment ma journée” (coffee breaks break up my day). The subject is always the repeating thing; the object is the life, day, or story it gives shape to.