Book of Etiquette/Volume 2/Appendix

by Lillian Eichler

APPENDIX

FOREIGN WORDS IN FREQUENT SOCIAL USAGE

• Ad infinitum, L., to infinity.
• À la carte, Fr., according to the bill of fare at table.
• À la mode, Fr., according to the mode or fashion.
• À la Russe, Fr., according to the Russian fashion (individual portions).
• A propos, L., to the point.
• Au fait, Fr., well-versed in social custom.
• Au revoir, Fr., good-by till we meet again.
• Ben educato, It., well educated.
• Billet d'amour, Fr., love letter.
• Blasé, Fr., world-weary.
• Bona fide, L., in good faith.
• Bonbonnière, Fr., bonbon dish.
• Bon jour, Fr., good morning; good day.
• Bon ton, Fr., fashionable society.
• Bon voyage, Fr., good journey to you.
• Bouillion, Fr., a clear broth.
• Boutonnière, Fr., a flower for the buttonhole.
• Buffet, Fr., a sideboard for china, silver or glass.
• Carte blanche, Fr., unconditional permission.
• Chancel, L., space in church reserved for the officiating clergy.
• Chère amie, Fr., dear friend (fem.).
• Coiffure, Fr., dressing of the hair.
• Collation, Fr., a light repast.
• Compotiers, Fr., dish for served stewed fruits or bonbons.
• Corsage bouquet, Fr., flowers fastened on bodice.
• Cortège, Fr., a formal procession.
• Coterie, Fr., a social set; a clique.
• Cotillon, Fr., a dance for four couples.
• Coup d'état, Fr., a sudden decisive blow in politics.
• Débutante, Fr., a young lady just introduced to society.
• Décolleté, Fr., fashionably low-cut for evening wear.
• De luxe, Fr., of luxury; made with unusual elegance.
• Dénouement, Fr., the issue.
• Dramatis personæ, L., characters in the play.
• De trop, Fr., too much, too many.
• Demoiselle, Fr., young lady.
• Éclat, Fr., renown, glory.
• Élite, Fr., better society.
• En buffet, Fr., served from the buffet; no tables.
• En déshabille, Fr., in undress; négligée.
• En masse, Fr., in a mass.
• En route, Fr., on the way.
• En suite, Fr., in company.
• En toilette, Fr., in full dress.
• Entrée, Fr., a side-dish, served as one course of a meal.
• Entre nous, Fr., between ourselves.
• Ensemble, Fr., all together.
• E pluribus unum, L., one out of many.
• Et cetera, L., and everything of the sort.
• Et tu, Brute, L., and thou also, Brutus.
• Eureka, Gr., I have found it.
• Fête, Fr., a festive social occasion.
• Fête champêtre, Fr., an open-air festival or entertainment.
• Filets mignon, Fr., small pieces of beef tenderloin, served with sauce.
• Finesse, Fr., social art in its highest conception.
• Fondant, Fr., soft icing or glacé.
• Finis, Fr., the end.
• Garçon, Fr., boy.
• Grace à Dieu, Fr., grace of God.
• Hors d'œuvre, Fr., out of course; special course.
• In memorium, L., to the memory of.
• Le beau monde, Fr., the fashionable world.
• Lettre de cachet, Fr., a sealed letter.
• Ma chère, Fr., my dear (fem.).
• Mal de mer, Fr., sea-sickness.
• Mardi gras, Fr., Shrove Tuesday.
• Mayonnaise, Fr., a salad sauce of egg, oil, vinegar and spices beaten together.
• Menu, Fr., bill of table fare.
• Mon ami, Fr., my friend (mon amie, fem.).
• Musicale, Fr., private concert.
• Négligée, Fr., morning dress; easy, loose dress.
• Noblesse oblige, Fr., rank imposes obligations; much is expected from one in good position.
• Nom de plume, Fr., an assumed name of a writer.
• Notre Dame, Fr., Our Lady.
• O Tempora! O Mores! L., Oh the times! Oh the manners!
• Passé, Fr., out of date.
• Penchant, Fr., a strong or particular liking.
• Pièce de résistance, Fr., something substantial by way of entertainment; most substantial course of a dinner; literally, a piece of resistance (a main event or incident).
• Pour prendre congé, Fr., to depart, take leave. (P.p.c. on calling cards meaning the departure of a caller for a long voyage, hence a parting call.)
• Prima donna, Ital., the chief woman vocalist of a concert.
• Pro patria, L., for our country.
• Protégée, Fr., under the protection of another.
• Rendezvous, Fr., an appointed place for a meeting.
• R.s.v.p., Fr., (Repondez s'il vous plâit), please reply.
• Requiescat in pace, L., may he (she) rest in peace.
• Résumé, Fr., a summary or abstract.
• Salon, Fr., a drawing-room; the room where guests are received.
• Sang froid, Fr., coolness, indifference.
• Sans souci, Fr., without care.
• Savoir faire, Fr., knowledge of social customs; tact.
• Table à manger, Fr., dining-table.
• Table d'hôte, Fr., a public dinner at hotel or restaurant
• Trousseau, Fr., the bridal outfit.
• Tout de suite, Fr., immediately.
• Tout ensemble, Fr., all together.
• Veni, Vidi, Vici, L., I came, I saw, I conquered.
• Verbatim, L., word for word.
• Vis-à-vis, Fr., face-to-face.
• Voilà, Fr., behold; there you are!