The Facts on File Dictionary of Foreign Words and Phrases (Writers Reference) (56 page)

panetela See PANATELA.

panini (paneenee) ITALIAN [short
bread] noun a type of Italian flat
bread made with extra-virgin olive
oil, often served grilled with a savory
filling: "I ordered a grilled chicken panini
for lunch."

pannacotta (panakota) ITALIAN
[cooked cream] noun a set creamy
dessert made from cream, milk,
sugar, and gelatin, originating in
Piedmont, N Italy, and sometimes

served with fruit or a chocolate or
caramel sauce.

panorama (panarama, panarahma)
GREEK [from pan all and horama
sight] noun a wide-ranging, comprehensive, or all-round view, a
cyclorama; may also refer to a continually changing scene: "The yantage
point offered a stunning panorama, with
an unbroken view to the horizon in all
directions."

pantheon (antheean) GREEK [after
the Pantheon temple in Rome, from
the Greek pantheion temple of all
gods, from pan and theos god] noun a
temple dedicated to all the gods or
otherwise honoring the dead; may also
refer to the most celebrated persons
connected with a particular profession, art, trade, or sport: `His name
joins that of other greats in the pantheon
of baseball."

panzer (p z5r, pis5r) GERMAN
[tank, armor, coat of mail, from Old
French panche belly] noun a tank (usuall), referring to the tanks of the
German army in World War II): "The
German panzers rolled across the border
at dawn and met little resistance.." "adjective of or relating to a panzer tank or
panzer tank force.

papabile (papabeelee, papabili) ITALIAN [likely to be pope] adjective of
or relating to someone who is considered a likely candidate for pope. -noun (plural papabili, papabeelee) a
likely candidate for pope.

paparazzo (paparatzo) ITALIAN [after
a fictional photographer called Paparazzo in the film La Dolce Vita (1960) by
Federico Fellini (1920-93)] noun (plural
paparazzi, paparatsee) an independent or freelance press photographer
who specializes in photographing the
rich and famous, regardless of their
consent: "The princess was hounded by
paparazzi all her life."

papier-mache (payper mast', papyay
maser) FRENCH [chewed paper] noun
a mixture of pulped paper and glue
or flour used as a modeling material:
"The children made masks out of papiermache." 'adjective of or relating to
such material; can also refer more
generally to anything artificial, fake,
or unreal.

papillote (papeeyt, papeelot) FRENCH
[from papillon butterfly] noun a greased
paper wrapper in which meat or other
food is cooked: "The fish was cooked en
papillote." 'adjective of or relating to
such a wrapper.

papoose (papoos) NARRAGANSETT
[from papoos] noun a young child or
baby (originally one of Native American parentage).

paprika (pa reeka) HUNGARIAN [from
Serbo-Croat papar ground pepper]
noun a condiment made from the

ground dried pods of cultivated sweet
peppers. -adjective of or relating to a
dish flavored with paprika.

papyrus (papiras) GREEK [papuros
paper reed] noun (plural papyruses or
papyri, pagree) a variety of sedge
(Cyperus papyrus) grown in the Nile
Valley and, by extension, a form of
paper made from such grasses or
anything written on scrolls made of
this material. adjective of or relating
to such grasses or paper made from
them: "Instead of speech with a Pythia or
a Sibyl, they will sell you a plain papyrus
leaf, hardly dry from the stalk, and bid you
dip it in the water of a certain fountain,
when it will show you a verse in which you
may hear of your future" (Lew Wallace,
Ben Hur, 1880).

par (pahr) LATIN [one that is equal,
a match] noun equality, a common
level, an average norm, or an accepted
standard (specifically a golf term, and
used more generally by extension):
"His game was below par last season."

par. See PARENTHESIS.

paralysis (p3ral5sis) GREEK [wrong
loosening, from paralyeing to loosen,
to disable] noun (plural paralyses,
paralaseez) a loss of the ability to feel
or move; by extension, any powerlessness or inability or failure to act.

paranoia (paranoia) GREEK [madness,
derangement, from paranous demented] noun a mental disorder characterized
by delusions of grandeur or of persecution or involving obsessive distrust of
others.

paraphernalia (parafannl)'a) GREEK
[parapherna bride's property beside the
dowry] plural noun an individual's
personal belongings or, more generally, any miscellaneous collection of
accessories, effects, equipment, or
furnishings: "The lorry was loaded with
all the paraphernalia necessary for an
Arctic expedition."

parasol (parasol) FRENCH [from Italian parasole, from parare to shield and
sole sun] noun a light, portable sunshade resembling an umbrella: "Each of
the ladies carried a parasol to shield their
delicate skin from the blazing sun."

paratha (paraht5) HINDI noun (in
Indian cuisine) a flat cake of unleavened bread.

par avion (pater aveean) FRENCH [by
airplane] adverb phrase by air (relating
to letters and other items to be sent by
airmail). abbreviated from PA., p.a.

par eminence (pahr emanons) FRENCH
[by eminence] adverb phrase preeminently.

parenthesis (parenthasis) GREEK [act
of inserting, from parentithenai
to insert] noun (plural parentheses, parenthaseez) a digression or

explanatory word or phrase inserted
into a text to provide additional information: "`Not much, I fear,' returned my
mother. Not so much as I could wish.
But Mr. Copper f ield was teaching me
(Much he knew about it himself..') said
Miss Betsey in a parenthesis." (Charles
Dickens, David Copperfield, 1849-50).
'abbreviated form par.

par excellence (pahr eksalons) FRENCH
[by excellence] adjective phrase the
best of its kind, preeminent: "He is a
great guy, and a raconteur par excellence."
-adverb phrase particularly, above all
others.

par exemple (pahr e sg ompal) FRENCH
[for example] adverb phrase for example, for instance. '"abbreviated form
p.e., p. ex.

parfait (pahrf) FRENCH [perfect]
noun a frozen flavored custard
made with whipped cream and
syrup, or a dessert comprising layers of ice cream, fruit, syrup, and
whipped cream and usually served in
a tall glass.

pariah (papa) TAMIL [from paraiyan
hereditary drummer] noun a member of a low caste in India; by extension, any social outcast: "After the
scandal he became a pariah, barred from
all the houses in fashionable Boston."

pari passu (paree paasoo, paaree
pasoo) LATIN [with equal step] adverb phrase at an equal rate of progress,
equally, on an equal footing, side by
side, without bias: "The proceeds of
the deal will be distributed pari passu
between the relatives."

parka (aka) ALEUT [skin jacket,
from northern Russian dialect] noun
a hooded weatherproof jacket (as
originally worn by Eskimos).

parkour (pahrkoor) FRENCH [from
parcours course, from Latin percursus
running through] noun a physical
discipline, usually practiced in urban
areas, in which participants attempt
to complete the course in the fastest and most direct manner possible,
overcoming whatever obstacles they
encounter by a variety of techniques
involving running, jumping, climbing,
and dropping; also known as "free
running." abbreviated form PK.

parmigiana (pahrmeejabn5) ITALIAN
[of Parma] adjective made with or
topped with Parmesan cheese: "Eggplant Parmigiana is a popular Neapolitan
dish."

parole (parol) FRENCH [word, promise, ultimately from Latin parabola
speech, parable] noun the release
of a convicted prisoner on condition
of good behavior: "When he had communicated this bright idea, which had its
origin in the perusal by the village cronies
of a newspaper, containing, among other
matters, an account of how some officer pending the sentence of some court-martial had been enlarged on parole, Mr.
Willet drew back from his guest's ear..."
(Charles Dickens, Barnaby Rudge,
1841). Can also refer to a password
or watchword known only to sentries
or guards. -verb to release a prisoner
on parole.

Parousia (pahruuzeea) GREEK [presence] noun (in Christian theology)
the Second Coming of Jesus Christ to
Earth, prophesied to take place at the
end of the ages.

parquet (pjkay, pahrlk) FRENCH
[small enclosure, from parc park]
noun a type of flooring consisting
of inlaid wood blocks; can also refer
to the ground floor in a theater or to
the area immediately in front of the
stage. 'verb to lay a floor of wooden
blocks.

parterre (pahrtair) FRENCH [from par
terre on the ground] noun a formal
ornamental garden or a level area on
which a house of village is built; can
also refer to the ground floor of a
theater: "The charms of a parterre are
daily be-rhymed in verse, and vaunted in
prose, but the beauties of a vegetable garden seldom meet with the admiration they
might claim" (Susan Fenimore Cooper,
ElinorWyllys, 1846).

parthenogenesis (pahrthanoasis)
GREEK [parthenos virgin and Latin
genesis genesis] noun reproduction in which the egg develops without being
fertilized (common among certain
classes of plants and invertebrates).

partim (pahrtim) LATIN [in part]
adverb in part.

parti pris pree) FRENCH
[side taken] noun phrase (plural partis
pris) prejudice, bias, partiality, a
preconceived opinion. -adjective phrase
prejudiced, biased, partial.

partita (pahrteeta) ITALIAN [divided
into parts, from partire to divide] noun
(plural partitas or partite, pahteeta),)
(in music) an instrumental suite comprising variations written for a solo
player or chamber ensemble.

parvenu (pahrvanoo, phrvan),oo)
FRENCH [one who has arrived, past
participle of parvenir to arrive] noun
a person who has only recently
acquired wealth, status, or power; an
upstart, one of the nouveaux riches.
noun, feminine parvenue a female
parvenu. 'adjective of or relating to
such an upstart: "Only old Catherine
Mingott, with her absence of moral prejudices and almost parvenu inderence to
the subtler distinctions, might have bridged
the abyss..." (Edith Wharton, The Age of
Innocence, 1920).

pas (pa) FRENCH [pace, step, from
Latin passus step] noun right of precedence, the right to go first; can also
refer to a step in classical dance.

pas de chat (pa da sha) FRENCH [step
of cat] noun phrase a catlike forwardspringing leap in classical ballet: "The
dancer executed a perfect pas de chat and
struck a pose of cheerful defiance at the
front of the stage."

pas de deux (pa da da, pa da doo)
FRENCH [step of two] noun phrase a
duet for two dancers; may also refer
to a relationship or activity in which
two people or things participate: "The
lovers were engaged in a kind of pas de
deux, oblivious of everyone around them."

pas devant (pa dawn ) FRENCH
[not in front of] adverb phrase not
in front of the children (or others
present), not appropriate in present
company.

pasha (phsha, pasha, pashah), pacha
TURKISH [from pasa, ultimately from
Persian padshah king, lord] noun a
person of consequence or high office
in northern Africa or Turkey: "And
Lansing and Streord were left to watch
the departure of the happy Pasha ensconced
between attentive beauties" (Edith Wharton, Glimpses of the Moon, 1922).

paso doble (paso dobla)-) SPANISH
[double step] noun phrase (plural paso
dobles) a brisk ballroom dance
based on Latin American rhythms, or
the music accompanying this.

pasquinade (paskwan l.) FRENCH
[from Italian pasquinato, after Pasquino, the name of a statue in Rome where
lampoons were posted] noun a satire
or lampoon, usually anonymous.

pass. See PASSIM.

passacaglia (pahsakahlya) ITALIAN
[from Spanish pasar to pass and calle
street] noun a musical composition
consisting of continuous variations
over a ground bass in slow triple time;
also a courtly dance performed to
such music.

passe (pas4) FRENCH [past, past
participle of passer to pass] adjective
outmoded, outdated, behind the
times, antiquated, past one's prime:
"The philosophy of the interwar generation
was dismissed as passe by the enfants terribles that emerged after the liberation."

passe-partout (paspertoo, paspahrtoo), passepartout FRENCH
[pass everywhere] noun a master key
or pass that allows the holder to cross
borders at will; can also refer to a
frame or border in which a picture
may be displayed.

pas seul (pa se r 1, pa sal) FRENCH
[solo step] noun phrase (plural pas
seuls) a dance or sequence of steps
for a solo performer.

passim (p isim, asam) LATIN [scattered, from passus, past participle of
pandere to spread] adverb mentioned
here and there, mentioned in vari ous places (in bibliographical notes).
"abbreviated form pass.

pastiche (pasteesh) FRENCH [from Italian pasticcio pasty] noun a composite
work of art incorporating selections
from other works, or a work of art created in imitation of the style of another
artist, author, or composer.

pastille (Pastal, Pastil) FRENCH [from
Latin pastillus small loaf] noun a flavored or medicated lozenge or candy:
"..its rooms and passages steamed with
hospital smells, the drug and the pastille
striving vainly to overcome the effluvia
of mortality" (Charlotte Bronte, Jane
Eyre, 1847).

pastis (pastees) FRENCH [jumble]
noun a French liqueur flavored with
aniseed.

pastorale (pastarahl, pastaral) ITALIAN
[shepherdlike, from pastore shepherd]
noun (plural pastorales or pastorali, pastarahlee) an opera or other
instrumental or vocal composition on
a rural theme.

pastrami (pastrahmee) YIDDISH [from
Romanian pastrama pressed and cured
meat, possibly of Turkish origin] noun
a highly seasoned shoulder cut of
smoked beef.

patatas bravas (patahtas brahvas)
SPANISH [fierce potatoes] plural noun
crispy fried potato cubes topped with a spicy tomato sauce, often served as
an clement of tapas.