Word origins

• cotillionA bold dance performed in groups of eight in which women lift their skirts to display their ankles.
• MelanesiaA continental region of Oceania, consisting of New Guinea, the Bismarck Archipelago, the Solomon Islands, New Caledonia, Vanuatu and Fiji.
• emissaryAn agent sent on a mission to represent the interests of someone else.
• LeonieA female given name from Latin.
• geodeA nodule of stone having a cavity lined with mineral or crystal matter on the inside wall.
• grenadineA cordial syrup made from pomegranates.
• minimA half note, drawn as a semibreve with a stem.
• citronellaA tropical Asian grass, Cymbopogon nardus, that has citrus-scented leaves.
• viognierA type of white wine-producing grape originally grown in the Rhône valley.
• SabatierA surname from French
• criteriumA mass-start road-cycle race consisting of several laps around a closed circuit, the length of each lap or circuit ranging from about 1 km to 2 km (1/2 mile to just over 1 mile).
• boucheA slit, notch or opening in the edge of a (physical or heraldic) shield, through which the bearer's lance or sword could be used or in which it could be rested.
• chlorpromazineA synthetic antipsychotic drug, with the chemical formula C₁₇H₁₉ClN₂S.
• charmeuseA fine semi-lustrous crepe in satin weave.
• ArsenaultA surname from French.
• MoselleA light white wine, made from Riesling grapes originating in the valley of this river.
• lapinRabbit fur.
• resultatSynonym of result.
• GouletA surname from French.
• BoudreauxA surname from Old French, common among Cajuns and Louisiana Creoles.
• dillyRedolent of dill (the herb).
• gangreneThe necrosis and rotting of flesh, usually caused by lack of blood supply.
• fracasA noisy disorderly quarrel, fight, brawl, disturbance or scrap.
• abattoirA public slaughterhouse for cattle, sheep, etc.
• BedardA surname from French.
• orignalA moose.
• aventurineA kind of brownish glass containing gold-coloured spangles.
• vivantIn mort, bridge, and similar games, the partner of dummy.
• positivismA doctrine that states that the only authentic knowledge is scientific knowledge, and that such knowledge can only come from positive affirmation of theories through strict scientific method, refusing every form of metaphysics.
• lucidityThe property of being lucid; lucidness.
• celibateNot married.
• AudeA department of Occitania, France. Capital: Carcassonne.
• BougainvilleA surname from French.
• masseuseA woman who performs massage; a female masseur.
• maireAny of a number of trees of New Zealand, mostly in genus Notelaea.
• puyAny of several cone-shaped hills in the Auvergne, France that are the remains of extinct volcanos.
• chocolatierA producer of chocolate.
• ValaisA canton of Switzerland (the French name)
• FLEFrench as a foreign language; French language for foreign language education
• affableReceiving others kindly and conversing with them in a free and friendly manner; friendly, courteous, sociable.
• sommelierThe member of staff at a restaurant who keeps the wine cellar and advises the guests on a choice of wines; a wine steward / stewardess, a wine waiter / waitress / server.
• ultimeUltimate; final.
• CharpentierA surname from French.
• talusThe bone of the ankle.
• endorphinAny of a group of peptide hormones found in the mammalian brain that act as neurotransmitters and have properties similar to morphine.
• PlessisA surname from French
• inoxStainless steel.
• calanderThe weevil Phlyctinus callosus.
• grosgrainA silk fabric having narrow, horizontal ribs.
• verbiageOverabundance of words.
• defileTo make (someone or something) physically dirty or unclean; to befoul, to soil.
• infanticideThe murder of an infant.
• islamismThe religion of Muslims; Islam.
• MulhouseA city in Haut-Rhin department, Alsace, Grand Est, France.
• occultismThe study of the supernatural
• DorvalA city in Quebec, Canada.
• SerresA city and regional unit in Central Macedonia, northern Greece.
• ErnestineRelating to Ernest, Elector of Saxony or his line of succession.
• cordageCord (of any type) when viewed as a mass or commodity.
• piquetA game of cards for two people, with thirty-two cards, all the deuces, threes, fours, fives, and sixes being set aside.
• dannaHuman feces.
• debutanteA young woman who makes her first formal appearance in society.
• aileronThe hinged part on the trailing edge of an airplane wing, used to control longitudinal turns.
• princesseBeing or relating to a princesse dress.
• saucierIn a large professional kitchen, a cook responsible for preparing sauces and for sauteing foods on demand.
• compositorA person who sets type; a typesetter.
• GaudetA surname from French.
• BerubeA surname from French.
• quintinA male given name from Latin.
• VioletteA surname from French.
• ceriseA deep, bright red colour tinted with pink.
• frangipaniAny of several tropical American shrubs and trees of the genus Plumeria, having fragrant, showy, funnel-shaped flowers of a wide range of colours from creamy to red.
• avenA vertical shaft leading upward from a cave passage, sometimes connecting with passages above.
• ChinonA town and commune in Indre-et-Loire department, Centre-Val de Loire, France.
• nubileOf an age suitable for marriage; marriageable (principally of a young woman).
• casseA fault in wine, caused by an enzyme, making it turn from red to brown, or white to yellow, on exposure to air.
• synonymyA certain degree of similarity between the meaning(s) of several (synonymous) words or phrases. (See Usage notes below.)
• LafontaineA surname from French.
• lallyLeg.
• anthraceneA tricyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (an acene containing three fused rings) obtained from coal tar; used in the manufacture of wood preservatives, insecticides and the dye alizarin; it is isomeric with phenanthrene.
• chitinA complex polysaccharide, a polymer of N-acetylglucosamine, found in the exoskeletons of arthropods and in the cell walls of fungi; thought to be responsible for some forms of asthma in humans.
• cultivatorAny of several devices used to loosen or stir the soil, either to remove weeds or to provide aeration and drainage.
• MathenyA surname from French.
• derailmentThe action of a locomotive or train leaving the rails along which it runs.
• aspirantSomeone who aspires (for high office, etc.)
• germinalRelating to spring
• PoulinA surname from French.
• numismaticsThe study of coins, tokens, medals and paper money.
• indolentHabitually lazy, procrastinating, or resistant to physical labor.
• asparagineA nonessential amino acid C₄H₈N₂O₃ found in plants such as asparagus.
• ennuiA gripping listlessness or melancholia caused by boredom; depression.
• TauzinA surname from French.
• GaronneA river that flows from the Spanish Pyrenees into the Atlantic Ocean.
• fabricantOne who fabricates; a manufacturer.
• MoroniThe capital city of the Comoros.
• herbivoreAn organism that feeds chiefly on plants; an animal that feeds on herbage or vegetation as the main part of its diet.
• BloisA city and commune, the prefecture of Loir-et-Cher department, Centre-Val de Loire, France.
• vergesA surname.
• pochetteA small handbag shaped like an envelope.
• KarineA female given name from French.