The Facts on File Dictionary of Foreign Words and Phrases (Writers Reference) (3 page)

siffleur (siflar) FRENCH [whistler, sfer to whistle] noun a person who
whistles (especially one who entertains publicly by whistling). noun, feminine
siffleuse (siflerz).

Cross-references

Cross-references are supplied at alternative points where users might expect an
entry, except where the cross-reference would be immediately next to the main
entry.

shivaree See CHARIVARI.

shmooze See SCHMOOZE.

Index

The index at the back of the book lists the main headwords of words and phrases in
alphabetical order of the source language.

Conclusion

We hope that users of this book will find it to be not only an informative work of
reference but also a fascinating guide for anyone who enjoys delving into the treasure trove of English words.

Martin H. Manser

Alice Grandison

David H. Pickering

abacus (abakas) LATIN [from Greek
abax slab] noun (plural abacuses or
abaci, abasee, abakee) a simple
instrument on which mathematical
calculations can be done by moving
beads or balls along rods, wires, or
grooves.

a bas (a ba) FRENCH [toward below]
interjection down with (someone or
something) !

abattoir (abatwahr) FRENCH [slaughterhouse, from abattre to beat down,
to fell] noun a slaughterhouse for
the killing and preparation of fresh
meat.

abba (aba) ARAMAIC [father] noun
father (used in the New Testament to
refer to God).

abbe (ai) FRENCH [from Latin
abbas abbot] noun title used by a
member of the French secular clergy
(specifically a priest who does not
have any official duties): "It was here
that the brave Abbe wrote a book with his
own blood, with a pen made of a piece of iron hoop, and by the light of a lamp made
out of shreds of cloth soaked in grease
obtained from his food..." (Mark Twain,
Innocents Abroad, 1869).

a bientot (a beeantO) FRENCH [until
soon, before long] interjection so
long! until next time! good-bye!

ab initio (ab anisheeo) LATIN [from
the beginning] adverb phrase from
the start, from the outset.

a bon chat, bon rat (a bon sha bon ra)
FRENCH [to a good cat, a good rat]
adverb phrase used to express the idea
that it takes cunning to get the better
of cunning.

ab origine (at) aanee) LATIN [from
the beginning] adverb phrase from the
beginning of creation, from the beginning of the world. "`If one is ab origine a
fool, one becomes so more than ever, seeing
that, however much one may try not to forget
what one has learnt, there will dawn upon
one, sooner or later, the revelation that one's
knowledge is all rubbish"' (Ivan Turgenev,
Fathers and Sons, 1862).

aborigine (abaanee) LATIN [ab
origine from the beginning] noun a
member of the indigenous people
of a particular region (especially of
Australia). 'adjective of or relating
to aborigine peoples or aborigine
culture: "These cave paintings are among
the finest examples of aborigine art ever
discovered."

ab ovo (ab ovo) LATIN [from the egg]
adverb phrase from the beginning.
"Is it possible that we are so absolutely,
so innocently, so ridiculous? ab ovo"
(D. H. Lawrence, Mornings in Mexico,
1927).

abseil (absayl) GERMAN [abseilen,
from ab down and Sei] rope] verb to
lower oneself quickly down a cliff, wall,
etc. by sliding down a rope; to rappel: A
member of the mountain rescue team abseiled
down to the injured climbers, attached them
to ropes, and hauled them to safety."

ab urbe condita (at) erbay kondeete)
LATIN [since the city was founded]
adverb phrase from the founding of
the city of Rome (used in Roman
dating systems). 'abbreviated form
A.U.C.

A.C. See ANTE CHRISTUM.

academia (akedeemeee) LATIN
[from Greek akademia academy, from
Akademos, the grove where Plato
taught his pupils] noun the academic
world, academic life in general: "He

spent his whole adult life in the rarefied
world of academia."

acanthus (akanthas) LATIN [from
Greek akanthos, from ake point] noun
a plant with prickly leaves; also an
acanthus leaf used as a design, especially on the capitals of Corinthian
columns.

a cappella (a kaela), a capela ITALIAN [at chapel, in chapel style] adverb
phrase (in music) unaccompanied,
without instrumental backing: "The
group was obliged to sing a cappella after
the accompanist failed to turn up."-adjective phrase (in music) unaccompanied,
without instrumental backing.

accelerando (accelerando) ITALIAN
[accelerating, from Latin accelerandum] adverb (in music) getting faster.
-adjective (in music) getting faster:
"Arabia's time at last has come!' He is
interrupted by a chorus of triumphant
Arabs (twelve-eight time, accelerando)"
(Honore de Balzac, Gambara, 1837).
noun (in music) a gradual increase in
speed. -abbreviated form accel.

accolade (_akelayd) FRENCH [embrace,
accoler to embrace, from Italian accol]are to embrace about the neck] noun
an award, a salute, a public acknowledgment of achievement: "The Child Mordred was properly rebuked and denied the
accolade, though, like the others, he seemed
to have assumed the title already" (Booth
Tarkington, Penrod, 1914).

accouchement (akooshmon(g))
FRENCH [delivery, labor, from accoucher
to give birth] noun confinement in
childbirth, labor, lying-in.

accoutrement (akootramant, akootarmant), accouterment FRENCH
[equipment] noun accessories, trappings, equipment: "She sat on the floor,
surrounded by all the accoutrements of
college life."

a cheval (a shaval) FRENCH [on horseback] adverb phrase astride, with a leg
on each side; can also refer to a ploy
in gambling in which stakes are placed
simultaneously on two chances.

achkan (atchkan) HINDI [ackan] noun
a knee-length coat in the style worn
by men in India and neighboring
countries: "Several movie stars have been
photographed in recent months wearing an
achkan, the latest fad to hit the fashion
pages."

achtung (akhtong, aktang) GERMAN
[attention] interjection look out!
watch out! : Achtung, guys, the foreman's
coming over."

acme (akmee) GREEK [from akme
highest point, culmination] noun the
highest point of something, the
zenith, the peak of perfection: "There
was not a sound of life save that acme
and sublimation of all dismal sounds, the
hark of a fox, its three hollow notes being
rendered at intervals of a minute with the precision of a funeral bell" (Thomas
Hardy, Far from the Madding Crowd,
1874).

acrophobia (akrafobeea) GREEK [from
akron summit and phobos fear] noun
an irrational fear of heights.

acropolis (akrcal3s) GREEK [akropolis upper city, akros peak and polis city]
noun a citadel or raised, usually fortified part of a city (after the Acropolis
in Athens): "Further on, some remains of
a gigantic aqueduct; here the high base of
an Acropolis, with the floating outline of a
Parthenon; there traces of a quay, as if an
ancient port had formerly abutted on the
borders of the ocean, and disappeared with
its merchant vessels and its war-galleys"
(Jules Verne, 20,000 Leagues Under the
Sea, 1870).

acte gratuit (akt gratwee) FRENCH
[gratuitous act] noun phrase (plural
actes gratuits) a gratuitous, impulsive, or random action.

actualite (aktyooalita)') FRENCH [current events] noun the objective facts
of the matter, the truth: "The assertions
of the minister appeared to be at conflict
with the evident actualite of the political
situation."

actus Dei (aktas iee) LATIN [act of
God] noun phrase an act of God, an
act of nature (typically a storm, earthquake, or other unpredictable natural catastrophe or phenomenon over which human beings have no control):
"If the court rules that the flood was an
actus Dei, the insurance company won't
have to pay out."

actus reus (akths f43S) LATIN [a
guilty act] noun phrase (in law) a
wrongful act giving rise to legal proceedings: "The prosecution argued that
without a valid actus reus no crime had
actually been committed."

acumen (dkyhmhn) LATIN [a point,
sharpness, from acuere to sharpen, from
acus needle] noun (plural acumina,
akyoomeena) shrewdness, discernment, insight, acuteness of perception:
"He sung a good song, told a good story, and
could crack a severe jest with all the acumen of Shakespeare's jesters, though without
using, like them, the cloak of insanity" (Walter Scott, The Antiquary, 1816).

A.D. See ANNO DOMINI; ANTE DIEM.

ad absurdum (ad abserdam) LATIN
[to an absurd thing] adverb phrase to
the point of absurdity: "The professor
seemed determined to pursue his theory
ad absurdum."

adagio (dahjeeo, adahzheeo) ITALIAN [at ease, from ad to and agio ease]
adverb (in music) at a relaxed, slow
tempo. -noun a piece of music written
in a relaxed, slow tempo. -adjective of
or relating to such a piece of music:
"The boots beat time with his head, as he
looked gently round at Mr. Trott with a

smile of pity, and whistled an adagio movement" (Charles Dickens, Sketches by Boz,
1836-37).

ad astra per ardua (ad astra per ahrdyooa) LATIN [to the stars through
difficulty] adverb phrase through difficulty to the stars (advising that those
who seek to attain an ambitious target
must expect difficulties along the way) :
"Grandfather looked with resigned dismay
upon the wreckage of his prototype glider:
Ad astra per ardua; he said to himsel' See
also PER ARDUA AD ASTRA.

A.D.C. See AIDE-DE-CAMP.

addendum (adendam) LATIN [that
which must be added, neuter of addendus, gerundive of addere to add] noun
(plural addenda, adenda) an addition, an appendix, something added
to a book, document, etc.: "But they
tasted just as good,' added Bob, by way of
note or addendum, after a moment's pause"
(George Eliot, The Mill on the Floss,
1860). "abbreviated form add.

adeste, fideles (adestay fitleez)
LATIN [be present, faithful ones] interjection phrase "0, come, all ye faithful!", the opening line of a well-known
Christmas carol.

ad eundem (ad eeandam) LATIN
[abbreviation of ad eundem gradum to
the same grade] adverb phrase to the
same degree, rank, or class (usually
in reference to honorary degrees awarded by a university or other
institution to those who have studied elsewhere). -abbreviated form ad
eund.

a deux (a da) FRENCH [by two] adjective phrase for two people, involving two people (usually in private
together). adverb phrase privately
between just two people: "They dined
d deux each evening in a cosy restaurant
up a narrow back street."

a deux mains (a da man) FRENCH [by
two hands] adverb phrase (in music)
to be played with both hands.

ad extremum (ad ikstriaymam) LATIN
[to the extreme] adverb phrase to the
extreme, to the last.

ad finem (ad feenam) LATIN [to the
end] adverb phrase to the end (a
bibliographical instruction in a text
advising the reader to read from a certain point to the end of the passage).
'abbreviated form ad fin.

ad hoc (ad hok) LATIN [to this, for
this] adverb phrase for this special
purpose, in this particular case.
-adjective phrase improvised or dedicated to a specific end or purpose:
"The governor has decided to set up an ad
hoc committee to look into the problem."

ad hominem (adhomanam) LATIN [to
the person] adverb phrase appealing
to a person's emotions rather than to

his or her intellect; can also refer to
a personal attack on someone rather
than a considered criticism of his or
her views or deeds. 'adjective phrase
personal, aimed at or directed against
an individual.

ad idem (ad idem) LATIN [to the
same thing] adjective phrase agreed,
in agreement, on the same point.

adieu (ad t, ady) FRENCH [With
God] interjection (plural adieus or
adieux, ady , ad, adyooz, add)
go with God! good-bye!: "And, farewell,
friends; / Thus Thisbe ends: Adieu, adieu,
adieu" (William Shakespeare, A Midsummer Night's Dream, c. 1595). -noun a
farewell, a leave-taking.