Foreign Words Used in English
Word |
Meaning |
ad hoc |
for this special purpose |
ad infinitum |
to infinity |
ad nauseam |
tiresome to the point of disgust |
agent provocateur |
one who tempts a suspect to commit a crime so they may be caught |
al dente |
cooked so as to be firm when eaten |
alfresco |
in the open air |
au fait |
fully informed; an expert |
au naturel |
naked; uncooked or cooked simply |
bête noire |
an object of particular dislike; pet aversion |
blitzkrieg |
lightening war |
bona fide |
in good faith |
brasserie |
informal or inexpensive restaurant |
carpe diem |
enjoy/ make the most of the present day |
carte blanche |
full discretionary powers |
cause célèbre |
famous lawsuit or controversy |
caveat emptor |
let the buyer beware |
chef-d'œuvre |
masterpiece |
compos mentis |
sane |
coup de grâce |
a finishing blow |
coup d'état |
a sudden decisive political move; violent seizure of power |
de facto |
actually, in fact |
déjà vu |
sense of having previously experienced the current situation |
dolce vita |
a life of pleasure and luxury |
doppelgänger |
an apparition or double of a living person |
double entendre |
double meaning |
enfant terrible |
one whose behaviour is controversial |
en masse |
in a body; altogether |
ex gratia |
payment given as a favour as opposed to a legal obligation |
ex officio |
by virtue of one's office/ position |
fait accompli |
a thing done that cannot be undone |
faux pas |
false step, an indiscretion |
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Word |
Meaning |
femme fatale |
seductive woman |
force majeure |
superior strength |
haute couture |
high fashion |
haute cuisine |
high-class cooking |
in absentia |
while not present |
in camera |
in a judge's private room |
in situ |
in its original position |
inter alia |
among other things |
je ne sais quoi |
hard to describe; I do not know what |
joie de vivre |
joy of living |
laissez-faire |
policy of non-intervention or inaction |
mea culpa |
acknowledging fault; by my fault |
modus operandi |
manner of working |
non sequitur |
it does not follow logically from the previous statement |
nouveau riche |
one newly enriched, an upstart |
par excellence |
pre-eminently |
per annum |
for each year |
per capita |
for each person |
per se |
by or in itself |
persona non grata |
unacceptable or unwelcome person |
pièce de résistance |
the most important/ impressive item |
prima facie |
at first view |
pro rata |
proportionally |
quid pro quo |
a favour given in return for something |
raison d’être |
the most important reason for someone's existence |
sine die |
without date, indefinitely |
sub judice |
being considered by a court and not to be discussed elsewhere |
table d’hôte |
general guest table; fixed-price meal |
terra firma |
solid earth |
tête-à-tête |
a private conversation |
vis-à-vis |
in relation to; as compared with |
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