Words borrowed by English from other languages (20191222)

bon mot
/bɒn ˈməʊ/Submit
noun
plural noun: bon mots
a witty remark.
synonyms: witticism, quip, pun, pleasantry, jest, joke, sally; More
Origin

mid 18th century: French, literally ‘good word’.
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au courant
/ˌəʊ kʊˈrɒ̃/

adjective
aware of what is going on; well informed.
"they were au courant with the literary scene"
synonyms: up to date, up with, in touch, familiar, at home, acquainted, conversant; More
antonyms: out of touch
fashionable.
"frocks with au courant details like ruching and asymmetrical hemlines"
Origin
mid 18th century: from French, literally ‘in the (regular) course’.
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maître d'hôtel
/ˌmeɪtrə dəʊˈtɛl,French mɛtʀ dotɛl/Submit
noun
noun: maître d'
the head waiter of a restaurant.
the manager of a hotel.
Origin
mid 16th century: French, literally ‘master of (the) house’.
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exposé

plural exposés

    The act of exposing somebody or something; a shameful showing up.
    A publication of investigative journalism that reveals hidden and often scandalous truths.
    A formal recital or exposition.
 
Borrowed from French exposé.

Pronunciation
    IPA(key): /ˌɛkspoʊˈzeɪ/
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hors d'oeuvre
/ɔː ˈdəːv, ɔː ˈdəːvr(ə)/
noun
noun: hors d'oeuvre; plural noun: hors d'oeuvre; plural noun: hors d'oeuvres

a small savoury dish, typically one served as an appetizer.
"a trolley laden with fifteen different hors d'oeuvres"
Origin

French, literally ‘outside the work’.

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éclat
/eɪˈklɑː/
noun
noun: éclat
brilliant display or effect.
"he finished his recital with great éclat"
synonyms: style, stylishness, flamboyance, confidence, self-assurance, elan, dash, flair, flourish, vigour, vivacity, vivaciousness, gusto, verve, zest, sparkle, brio, panache, exuberance, ebullience, enthusiasm, eagerness, vitality, dynamism, animation, liveliness, spirit, energy; More
antonyms: lethargy
social distinction or conspicuous success.
"she was quite unaware of the éclat of being ambassadress there"
Origin
late 17th century: from French, from éclater ‘burst out’.
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douceur

/duːˈsəː,French dusœʀ/
noun
noun: douceur; plural noun: douceurs

    a financial inducement; a bribe.
    "Pericles gave a handsome douceur to the Spartan commanders to withdraw without fighting"

Origin
French, literally ‘sweetness’.

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persona non grata

/pəˌsəʊnə nɒn ˈɡrɑːtə,pəˌsəʊnə nəʊn ˈɡrɑːtə/
noun
noun: persona non grata; plural noun: personae non gratae

    an unacceptable or unwelcome person.
    "Nabokov was persona non grata with the regime"

Origin
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tête-à-tête

/ˌtɛtaˈtɛt,ˌteɪtɑːˈteɪt/

noun
noun: tête-à-tête; plural noun: tête-à-têtes
1.
a private conversation between two people.
"it so happened that their tête-à-tête was in earshot"
synonyms: conversation, chat, cosy chat, talk, heart-to-heart, one-on-one, one-to-one; More
2.
an S-shaped sofa on which two people can sit face to face.
adjective & adverb
adjective: tête-à-tête; adverb: tête-à-tête
1.
involving or happening between two people in private.
"a tête-à-tête meal"
synonyms: privately, in private; More
Origin

late 17th century: French, literally ‘head-to-head’.
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connoisseur

/ˌkɒnəˈsəː/

noun
noun: connoisseur; plural noun: connoisseurs
an expert judge in matters of taste.
"a connoisseur of music"
synonyms: expert judge (of), authority (on), specialist (in); More
antonyms: ignoramus
Origin

early 18th century: from obsolete French, from conoistre ‘know’.

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déjà vu

/deɪʒɑː ˈvuː,French deʒa vy/
noun
noun: déjà vu

    a feeling of having already experienced the present situation.
    "a feeling of déjà vu"

Origin
early 20th century: French, literally ‘already seen’.
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cum laude
/kʊm ˈlaʊdeɪ,kʌm ˈlɔːdi/

adverb & adjective
NORTH AMERICAN
adverb: cum laude; adjective: cum laude
with distinction (with reference to university degrees and diplomas).
"he received his A.B. Degree cum laude"
Origin

Latin, literally ‘with praise’.

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laissez-faire

/ˌlɛseɪˈfɛː,French lɛsefɛʀ/
noun
noun: laissez-faire
the policy of leaving things to take their own course, without interfering.
"a laissez-faire attitude to life"
ECONOMICS
abstention by governments from interfering in the workings of the free market.
"laissez-faire capitalism"
synonyms: free enterprise, private enterprise, free trade, individualism, non-intervention, free-market capitalism, private ownership, market forces, deregulation; More
Origin

French, literally ‘allow to do’.
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faux pas

/fəʊ ˈpɑː,French fo pa/
noun
noun: faux pas; plural noun: faux pas
an embarrassing or tactless act or remark in a social situation.
"‘I was suddenly sick in the back of their car’—it was years before he could confess his faux pas to them"
synonyms: gaffe, blunder, mistake; More
Origin

French, literally ‘false step’.
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de novo
/deɪ ˈnəʊvəʊ,diː ˈnəʊvəʊ/
adverb & adjective
adverb: de novo; adjective: de novo

    starting from the beginning; anew.
    "in a pure meritocracy, everyone must begin de novo"

Origin
Latin, literally ‘from new’.
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Ad nauseam
Mea culpa
Objets d'art
Magnum opus
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segue
/ˈsɛɡweɪ/
verb
gerund or present participle: segueing

    (in music and film) move without interruption from one piece of music or scene to another.
    "allow one song to segue into the next"
        move or shift from one role, state, or condition to another.
        "from the humour magazine, the New York-born artist segued into producing films"

Origin
Italian, literally ‘follows’.
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"Carpe diem quam minimum credula postero" 
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forte (1)
/ˈfɔːteɪ,ˈfɔːti,fɔːt/Submit
noun
noun: forte; noun: one's forte; plural noun: one's fortes; plural noun: fortes
1.
a thing at which someone excels.
"small talk was not his forte"
synonyms: strength, strong point, speciality, long suit, strong suit, talent, special ability, skill, bent, gift, claim to fame, department; More
antonyms: weakness
2.
FENCING
the part of a sword blade from the hilt to the middle.
Origin

mid 17th century (in forte1 (sense 2); originally as fort ): from French fort (masculine), forte (feminine) ‘strong’, from Latin fortis .

forte (2)
/ˈfɔːteɪ/Submit
MUSIC
adverb
adverb: forte
1.
(especially as a direction) loudly.
"the figure in this bar should be played forte"
adjective
adjective: forte
1.
played loudly.
"the pianissimo lightness in the upper strings against the forte melody is perfectly weighted"
noun
noun: forte; plural noun: fortes
1.
a passage performed or marked to be performed loudly.
Origin

Italian, literally ‘strong, loud’, from Latin fortis .
Translate forte to
Tip
Similar-sounding words
forte is sometimes confused with fort

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milieu
/ˈmiːljəː,mɪˈljəː/Submit
noun
noun: milieu; plural noun: milieux; plural noun: milieus
a person's social environment.
"Gregory came from the same aristocratic milieu as Sidonius"
synonyms: environment, background, backdrop, setting, context, atmosphere, scene; More
Origin

mid 19th century: French, from mi ‘mid’ + lieu ‘place’.

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gung-ho
/ɡʌŋˈhəʊ/Submit
adjective
adjective: gung-ho
unthinkingly enthusiastic and eager, especially about taking part in fighting or warfare.
"the gung-ho tabloids have wrapped themselves in the Union Jack"
Origin

Second World War: from Chinese gōnghé, taken to mean ‘work together’ and adopted as a slogan by US Marines.
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derrière
/ˌdɛrɪˈɛː/
nounEUPHEMISTIC
noun: derrière; plural noun: derrières
a person's buttocks.
Origin

late 18th century: French, literally ‘behind’.

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melange
/meɪˈlɒ̃ʒ/
noun
noun: melange; plural noun: melanges
a varied mixture.
"a melange of tender vegetables and herbs"
synonyms: mixture, medley, blend, variety, mixed bag, mix, miscellany, diversity, collection, selection, assortment, assemblage, combination, motley collection, pot-pourri, conglomeration, jumble, mess, confusion, mishmash, hotchpotch, hodgepodge, ragbag, pastiche, patchwork, farrago, hash; More
Origin

from French mélange, from mêler ‘to mix’.
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nouveau
/ˈnuːvəʊ,French nuvo/
adjectiveINFORMAL
adjective: nouveau
1.
short for nouveau riche.
2.
modern or up to date.
"nouveau wines"

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QED
/kjuːiːˈdiː/
abbreviation
noun: QED
1.
quantum electrodynamics.
2.
quod erat demonstrandum.
quod erat demonstrandum
/kwɒd ˌɛrat dɛmənˈstrandʊm/
exclamation
exclamation: QED
used to convey that a fact or situation demonstrates the truth of one's theory or claim, especially to mark the conclusion of a formal proof.
Origin

Latin, literally ‘which was to be demonstrated’.

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soirée
/ˈswɑːreɪ/
noun
noun: soirée; noun: soiree; plural noun: soirées; plural noun: soirees
an evening party or gathering, typically in a private house, for conversation or music.
Origin

French, from soir ‘evening’.
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cadre
/ˈkɑːdə,ˈkɑːdr(ə),ˈkadri/
 Learn to pronounce
noun
plural noun: cadres
1.
a small group of people specially trained for a particular purpose or profession.
"a cadre of professional managers"
synonyms: small group, body, team, corps; More
2.
a group of activists in a communist or other revolutionary organization.
"he was an activist in the cadre"
a member of an activist group.
"two young cadres were elected to the politburo"
Origin

mid 19th century: from French, from Italian quadro, from Latin quadrus ‘square’.
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segue
/ˈsɛɡweɪ/
 Learn to pronounce
verb
verb: segue; 3rd person present: segues; past tense: segued; past participle: segued; gerund or present participle: segueing
1.
(in music and film) move without interruption from one piece of music or scene to another.
"allow one song to segue into the next"
move or shift from one role, state, or condition to another.
"from the humour magazine, the New York-born artist segued into producing films"
noun
noun: segue; plural noun: segues
1.
an uninterrupted transition from one piece of music or film scene to another.
a transition from one role, state, or condition to another.
"that's actually a perfect segue into my next question"
Origin

Italian, literally ‘follows’.
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barista
/bəˈrɪstə/
 Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: barista; plural noun: baristas
a person who serves in a coffee bar.
Origin

1980s: Italian, ‘barman’.

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laissez-faire
/ˌlɛseɪˈfɛː,French lɛsefɛʀ/
noun
noun: laissez-faire
the policy of leaving things to take their own course, without interfering.
"a laissez-faire attitude to life"
ECONOMICS
abstention by governments from interfering in the workings of the free market.
"laissez-faire capitalism"
synonyms: free enterprise, private enterprise, free trade, individualism, non-intervention, free-market capitalism, private ownership, market forces, deregulation; More
Origin

French, literally ‘allow to do’.

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uber-
/ˈuːbə/
 Learn to pronounce
combining form
prefix: uber-; prefix: über-
denoting an outstanding or supreme example of a particular kind of person or thing.
"she's a self-proclaimed uberbitch"
to a great or extreme degree.
"an uber-cool bar"
Origin

German über ‘over’, after Übermensch.
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nouveau
/ˈnuːvəʊ,French nuvo/
adjectiveINFORMAL
adjective: nouveau
1.
short for nouveau riche.
2.
modern or up to date.
"nouveau wines"
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coup de grâce
/ˌkuː də ˈɡrɑːs,French ku də ɡʀas/
noun
noun: coup de grâce; plural noun: coups de grâce; noun: coup de grace; plural noun: coups de grace
a final blow or shot given to kill a wounded person or animal.
"he administered the coup de grâce with a knife"
synonyms: death blow, finishing blow, killing, dispatch; More
an action or event that serves as the culmination of a bad or deteriorating situation.
"Howarth delivered the coup de grâce with a penalty two minutes from time"
Origin

French, literally ‘stroke of grace’.

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mea culpa
/ˌmeɪə ˈkʊlpə,ˌmiːə ˈkʌlpə/
exclamation
noun: mea culpa; plural noun: mea culpas
used as an acknowledgement of one's fault or error.
"‘Well, whose fault was that?’ ‘Mea culpa!’ Frank said"
Origin

Latin, ‘by my fault’.
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raison d'être
/ˌreɪzɒ̃ ˈdɛtrə,French ʀɛzɔ̃ dɛtʀ/
noun
the most important reason or purpose for someone or something's existence.
"seeking to shock is the catwalk's raison d'être"

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quasi-
/ˈkweɪzʌɪ,ˈkweɪsʌɪ,ˈkwɑːzi/
 Learn to pronounce
combining form
prefix: quasi-
apparently but not really; seemingly.
"quasi-American"
synonyms: supposedly, seemingly, apparently, allegedly, reportedly, professedly, ostensibly, on the face of it, to all appearances, on the surface, to all intents and purposes, outwardly, superficially, purportedly, nominally, by one's/its own account, on paper; More
being partly or almost.
"quasicrystalline"
synonyms: partly, partially, in part, part, to a certain extent/degree, to a limited extent/degree, to some extent/degree, half, in some measure, relatively, comparatively, moderately, (up) to a point, a little, somewhat; More
Origin

from Latin quasi ‘as if, almost’.

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tirade
/tʌɪˈreɪd,tɪˈreɪd/
 Learn to pronounce
noun
plural noun: tirades
a long, angry speech of criticism or accusation.
"a tirade of abuse"
synonyms: diatribe, invective, polemic, denunciation, rant, broadside, attack, harangue, verbal onslaught; More
Origin

early 19th century: from French, literally ‘long speech’, from Italian tirata ‘volley’, from tirare ‘to pull’.

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post-partum
/ˈpɑːtəm/
adjective MEDICINE•VETERINARY MEDICINE
adjective: postpartum
following childbirth or the birth of young.
"the custom of post-partum abstinence"
Origin
mid 19th century: from Latin post partum ‘after childbirth’.
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verboten
/vəːˈbəʊt(ə)n,German fɛɐˈboːtn/
 Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: verboten
forbidden, especially by an authority.
"bank fishing is verboten on Strathbeg"
Origin

German.

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extempore
/ɪkˈstɛmp(ə)ri,ɛkˈstɛmp(ə)ri/
 Learn to pronounce
adjective & adverb
adjective: extempore; adverb: extempore
spoken or done without preparation.
"extempore public speaking"
synonyms: impromptu, spontaneous, unscripted, ad lib; More
antonyms: rehearsed, planned, from notes, with preparation
Origin

mid 16th century: from Latin ex tempore ‘on the spur of the moment’ (literally ‘out of the time’).

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pro forma
/prəʊ ˈfɔːmə/
noun
plural noun: pro formas
a pro forma document or form.
"please return the enclosed pro forma"
Origin

early 16th century: from Latin.

...

pro forma
adjective [ before noun ], adverb formal UK  /ˌprəʊ ˈfɔː.mə/ US  /ˌproʊ ˈfɔːr.mə/

Pro forma words or actions are usual or done in the usual way:

a pro forma declaration of loyalty

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ramen
/ˈrɑːmɛn/
Learn to pronounce
noun
plural noun: ramen
(in Japanese cuisine) quick-cooking noodles, typically served in a broth with meat and vegetables.
Origin
Japanese, from Chinese lā ‘to pull’ + miàn ‘noodles’.
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veto
/ˈviːtəʊ/
Learn to pronounce
verb
gerund or present participle: vetoing
exercise a veto against (a decision or proposal).
"the president vetoed the bill"

"I vetoed the idea of a holiday"

Origin
early 17th century: from Latin, literally ‘I forbid’, used by Roman tribunes of the people when opposing measures of the Senate.
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voir dire
/ˌvwɑː ˈdɪə/
nounLAW
noun: voir dire; plural noun: voir dires; noun: voire dire; plural noun: voire dires
a preliminary examination of a witness or the jury pool by a judge or counsel.
"voir dire interrogation of the board members did not bode well for their case"
an investigation into the truth or admissibility of evidence, held during a trial.
"police at the scene and witnesses all said he smelled of alcohol, according to evidence at a voir dire"
Origin

Law French, from Old French voir ‘true’ + dire ‘say’.

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blitzkrieg
/ˈblɪtskriːɡ/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: blitzkrieg; plural noun: blitzkriegs
an intense military campaign intended to bring about a swift victory.
Origin
Second World War: from German, literally ‘lightning war’.
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loco
ləʊkəʊ/
adjective informal
adjective: loco
    crazy.
Origin
late 19th century: from Spanish, ‘insane’
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penchant
/ˈpɒ̃ʃɒ̃/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: penchant; plural noun: penchants
a strong or habitual liking for something or tendency to do something.
"he has a penchant for adopting stray dogs"

late 17th century: from French, ‘leaning, inclining’, present participle of the verb pencher .
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faux pas
/fəʊ ˈpɑː,French fo pa/
noun
noun: faux pas; plural noun: faux pas
an embarrassing or tactless act or remark in a social situation.
"‘I was suddenly sick in the back of their car’—it was years before he could confess his faux pas to them"
Similar:
gaffe
blunder
mistake

French, literally ‘false step’
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