The Facts on File Dictionary of Foreign Words and Phrases (Writers Reference) (5 page)

a la frangaise (a la fronsa rz, a la
fronsez) FRENCH [from a la mode francaise in the French manner] adjective
phrase in the French style, after the
French fashion. "adverb phrase in the
French style, after the French fashion:
"Every detail of the decor was done a la
francaise."

a la grecque (a la grek) FRENCH [in
the Greek manner] adjective phrase

food served in a sauce of olive oil,
lemon juice, and seasoning.

a la mode (a la mod), a la mode
FRENCH [according to the fashion]
adjective phrase fashionable, stylish,
chic, up-to-date: "The luxuriously rich
are not simply kept comfortably warm, but
unnaturally hot; as I implied before, they are
cooked, of course a la mode." (Henry David
Thoreau, Walden; or, Life in the Woods,
1854). Also, served with ice cream:
... apple pie a la mode."

a la recherche du temps perdu (a la
rashairsh doo ton pairdoo) FRENCH
[in search of lost time] adverb phrase
remembrance of things past (after a
seven-part novel of that name [1913-
27] by Marcel Proust).

a la russe (a 15 roos) FRENCH [in the
Russian manner] adverb phrase in the
Russian manner. -adjective phrase in
the Russian manner.

albino (albino) PORTUGUESE [from
Spanish albo white, itself from Latin
albus white] noun a human being
or other living creature that is congenitally deficient in pigment (usually
resulting in a pale skin, colorless hair,
and pink eyes) : "Grin,' answered the
Voice `a younger student, almost an
albino, six feet high, and broad, with a pink
and whiteface and red eyes who won the
medal for chemistry"' (H. G. Wells, The
Invisible Man, 1897). 'adjective of or
relating to albinism.

a.l.c. See A LA CARTE.

alcazar (alkazar) SPANISH [from Arabic a]-kasr the captain] noun a Spanish palace or fortress: "The great tower
of the alcazar still bears the scars of
ancient bombardments."

al dente (al dentay, al dentee) ITALIAN [to the tooth] adjective phrase
lightly cooked (so as to remain slightly
firm). adverb phrase lightly cooked
(so as to remain slightly firm): "The
vegetables should be cooked al dente, so
that they are still crisp to eat."

alea jacta est (aleea ),akta est) LATIN
[the die has been cast, attributed to
Julius Caesar (100-44 B.C.) when he
crossed the Rubicon] noun phrase the
die is cast, it is too late to go back.

al fine (al feenee) ITALIAN [to the
end] adverb phrase (music) to the end
of the piece.

alfresco (alfresko), al fresco ITALIAN [in the open] adjective open-air.
-adverb in the open air, out-of-doors:
"If the weather stays fine we shall eat
alfresco."

algebra (aljabra) ARABIC [al-jabr the
reduction] noun a form of arithmetic in which letters are substituted for
numbers but continue to be treated
in a mathematical way, or a book
containing such calculations: `His studies in binary code and Boolean algebra

contributed to the devising of computer
circuitry that is crucial to modern digital
telecommunications."

alias (yleeas, 9~d)'5s) LATIN [abbreviation of alias dictus at other times
called, otherwise] noun (plural aliases,
4lee5siz, d),asiz) a an assumed name.
-adverb also called, otherwise known
as: "This dreadful threat had the desired
effect, and through the two remaining
fields the three pair of small legs trotted
on without any serious interruption, not
withstanding a small pond full of tadpoles,
alias bullheads,' which the lads looked at
wistfully" (George Eliot, Adam Bede,
1859).

alibi (alabi) LATIN [elsewhere, alius
other] noun (in law) a defensive plea
that a person was elsewhere at the
time that an offense was committed;
also used more generally to refer to
any excuse designed to escape punishment or blame: "Writing? Rot! What's
he writing? He's breaking you in, my dear;
that's what he's doing: establishing an
alibi"' (Edith Wharton, Glimpses of the
Moon, 1922).

aliyah (ahlee),ah), aliya HEBREW [aliya
ascent] noun the immigration of
Jews to Israel.

alla breve (ala brew, ala bravee) ITALIAN [according to the breve] noun
phrase (in music) a symbol indicating
that a passage should be played in
duple or quadruple time, with two minim beats in a bar. adverb phrase (in
music) to be played in duple or quadruple time, with two minim beats in
a bar. adjective phrase (in music) of
or relating to a passage to be played
in duple or quadruple time, with two
minim beats in a bar.

Allahu akbar (alahoo akbahr) ARABIC
[Allah is great, from al ilah the God]
noun phrase God is great (Islamic
chant).

allee (aly) FRENCH [Old French aler
to go] noun a tree-lined walk through
a garden or park.

allegretto (alagreto) ITALIAN [diminutive of allegro merry] adverb (in
music) to be played at a medium-fast
pace. 'adjective (in music) mediumfast. '"noun (plural allegrettos or allegretti, alagretee) a medium-fast pace,
or a piece of music to be played at a
medium-fast pace: "I have heard an Italian conductor (no longer living) take the
adagio of that symphony at a lively allegretto, slowing down for the warmer major
sections into the speed and manner of the
heroine's death song in a Verdi opera..."
(George Bernard Shaw, Treatise on Parents and Children).

allegro (alegro, algro) ITALIAN
[merry] noun (plural allegri, alegree,
hhigree) a piece of music written
to be played at a brisk pace. -adverb
(in music) to be played at a brisk pace.
-adjective (in music) brisk, lively.

alleluia See HALLELUJAH.

alligator (alagaytar) SPANISH [ellagarto
the lizard, ultimately from Latin lacertus
lizard] noun a broad-snouted reptile
of the crocodilian group, native to the
Southeastern United States and-other
parts of the world: "Under the shore his
boat was tied, / And all her listless crew /
Watched the gray alligator slide / Into the
still bayou" (Henry W. Longfellow, "The
Quadroon Girl," 1842).

alma mater (alma mahtar, alma
star) LATIN [fostering mother]
noun phrase (plural alma maters or
almae matres, alma mahtraz, alma
naa~treez) a school, college, or university where a person has been educated: "The U. is my own Alma Mater,
and I am proud to be known as an alumni,
but there are certain instructors there
who seem to think we ought to turn the
conduct of the nation over to hoboes and
roustabouts" (Sinclair Lewis, Babbitt,
1922).

aloe vera (alo veera) LATIN [true
aloe, aloe and vera true] noun phrase
an aloe, the source of an extract used
in the preparation of skin-care and
other health products.

aloha (alohah) HAWAIIAN [aloha love]
interjection a customary word of
greeting or farewell among Hawaiians.

alopecia (alaeesha) GREEK [from
alopekia fox mange, from alopex fox] noun total or partial loss of hair,
usually caused by a medical condition:
"My sister lost all her body hair at the age
of 16 through alopecia."

alpaca (alaka) SPANISH [Aymara allpaga] noun a sheeplike domesticated
mammal (Lama pacos) of South America, and the fine wool for which it is
prized: "The peasants piled the mules
high with bales of alpaca."

alpenstock (alpenstok) GERMAN [Alpstick, from Alpen Alps and stock staff]
noun a long iron-tipped staff traditionally used by mountain walkers:
"The last we saw of him he was striding
into the mist, stabbing the path ahead with
his ancient alpenstock."

alpha (alfa) GREEK [first letter of the
Greek alphabet] noun the first letter
of the Greek alphabet, used to indicate
the first in a sequence or ranking.

al segno (al snyo) ITALIAN [from
the sign] adverb phrase (in music) repeat from the sign indicating the
beginning of a particular passage.

alter ego (oltar eego, oltar ego) LATIN
[another I] noun phrase (plural alter
egos) a person's second or other
self, or an intimate friend: "Over the
months they became very close, behaving
almost as each other's alter ego."

alto (alto) ITALIAN [high, from Latin
altus high] noun a contralto singer

or a musical instrument with a lower
range than treble or soprano. 'adjective of or relating to a voice or musical
instrument with an alto range: "They
are offering lessons on the alto saxophone."

alumnus (alamnas) LATIN [pupil, foster son, from alere to nourish] noun
(plural alumni, alamnee, or alumnae,
alamnnee, alumni) a former student
of a particular school, college, university, or other organization: "He
was rewarded by seeing Maggie let her
work fall and gradually get so absorbed
in his wonderful geological story that she
sat looking at him, leaning forward with
crossed arms and with an entire absence of
self-consciousness, as if he had been the
snuffiest of old professors and she a downylipped alumnus" (George Eliot, The
Mill on the Floss, 1860). '"noun, feminine
alumna (alamna) a woman who has
attended a particular school, college,
university, or other organization.

A.M. See ANTE MERIDIEM.

amanuensis (aman),ooensis) LATIN
[secretary, from servus a manu slave
with secretarial duties] noun (plural
amanuenses, aman)-ooenseez) a
person who is employed to take dictation or make copies of manuscript:
"Nicholas briefly replied, that he wanted
to know whether there was any such post
to be had, as secretary or amanuensis to a
gentleman" (Charles Dickens, Nicholas
Nickleby, 1838-39).

amaretto (amarcto) ITALIAN [diminutive of amaro bitter] noun (plural amaretti, amaretee) a type of macaroon
made with bitter almonds, or a liqueur
made with almonds: "The cardinal usually enjoys a small glass of amaretto after
dinner."

amateur (amater, amachar) FRENCH
[lover, from Italian amatore lover, ultimately from Latin amare to love]
noun a person who pursues a particular interest, line of study, sport,
or other activity on an unpaid, nonprofessional basis, usually out of pure
enthusiasm for it; can also refer to
someone who lacks experience or
competence in something, especially
in comparison to a professional: "Oh
no, Lady Caroline. I have only had one
husband as yet. I suppose you look upon
me as quite an amateur" (Oscar Wilde,
A Woman of No Importance, 1893).
'adjective of or relating to an amateur
pursuit, or to someone who lacks
professional expertise or competence
in something.

amazon (amazan), Amazon GREEK
[Amazon) noun a member of a mythological race of female warriors (fabled
to cut off a breast in order to pull their
bows) and by extension any physically
powerful or imposing female: "`I may
not be a Amazon, Miss Floy, and wouldn't
so demean myse f by such disfigurement,
but anyways I'm not a giver up, I hope"'
(Charles Dickens, Dombey and Son,
1846-48).

ambiance (ombeeons, ambecons),
ambience FRENCH [atmosphere,
ambiant ambient, ultimately from
Latin ambire to go round] noun the
atmosphere or character of a particular place, person, or thing; or, more
generally, the immediate environment or surroundings: "She stood quite
motionless for a minute or two, taking in
the ambiance of the place."

ambrosia (ambrozha, ambrozeea)
LATIN [immortality, from Greek
ambrotos immortal] noun the elixir of
the gods (variously identified as either
food, drink, or perfume) in Roman
and Greek mythology, and thus anything with a delightful taste or scent:
"And as I sat I fell into conversation with a
god-like stranger who sipped some golden
ambrosia" (Robert Service, Ballads of a
Bohemian, 1920).

A.M.D.G. See AD MAJORFM DEL
GLORIAM.

ameba See AMOEBA.

ame damnee (am damnee) FRENCH
[damned soul] noun phrase (plural ames
damnees) a willing servant or devotee, a stooge.

amen (ahmen, ahmen) LATIN [from
Hebrew amen truly, verily] interjection
so be it (spoken at the end of a
prayer or to express approval): "For
thine is the kingdom, the power, and the
glory, for ever and ever. Amen." (Lord's Prayer). '"noun an expression of
approval or assent.

amende honorable (amend onarahbla) FRENCH [honorable amends] noun
phrase (plural amendes honorables)
a public apology or open acknowledgment of error.

Americano (amerakahno) ITALIAN
[American] noun coffee made from
equal measures of espresso and hot
water.

amicus curiae (ameekas ooriee,
ameekas k)ooreei) LATIN [a friend of
the court] noun phrase (plural amid
curiae, ameesee kkooriee, ameesee
kyoorcci) an individual or organization invited by a court to advise on a
case in which the individual or organization is not otherwise involved.
'abbreviated form am. cur.

amigo (amcego, 5meeg6) SPANISH [friend, from Latin amicus] noun
friend, comrade: "It is a fan I am looking for. I cannot understand how Antonia
could-Well! Have you found it, amigo?"
(Joseph Conrad, Nostromo, 1904).

amnesia (amncezha, amneezeea) GREEK
[forgetfulness] noun forgetfulness or
loss of memory due to brain injury,
illness, or other condition: "Research
is being undertaken to determine whether
people who suffer from amnesia can
still remember their general knowledge
of objects."

amoeba (ameeba), ameba LATIN [from
Greek amoibe change] noun (plural
ameobas or amoebae, ameebec) a
single-celled water-dwelling microorganism with a constantly changing
shape belonging to a large genus of
protozoans: "The Life Force either will
not or cannot achieve immortality except in
very low organisms: indeed it is by no means
ascertained that even the amoeba is immortal" (George Bernard Shaw, Treatise on
Parents and Children).

amok (amak, amok), amuck MALAY
[amoq frenzied] adverb in a wild,
frenzied, uncontrollable manner: "It
is true, I might have resisted forcibly with
more or less effect, might have run `amok'
against society; but I preferred that society
should run amok' against me, it being the
desperate party" (Henry David Thoreau,
Walden; or, Life in the Woods, 1854).
'adjective wild, frenzied, uncontrollable.