Word origins

• sarabandeA 16th-century Spanish dance.
• bricolageConstruction using whatever materials were available at the time.
• grimaceA contorted facial expression, often expressing contempt or pain.
• VosgesA mountain range in eastern France.
• bruneBrunette.
• WenceslasA male given name from the Slavic languages.
• aubadeA poem or song evoking or greeting the dawn or early morning.
• aubeA department of Grand Est, France (INSEE code 10).
• coquetteA woman who flirts or plays with people's affections.
• vermouthA dry, or sweet apéritif wine flavored with aromatic herbs, and often used in mixed drinks.
• marabouLeptoptilos crumeniferus, a large wading bird native to Africa, with a naked head and neck adapted for scavenging.
• landeAn uncultivated plain, especially a sandy track along the seashore in southwestern France.
• jebelA hill, a mountain (especially in the Middle East or North Africa).
• GaillardA surname from French, equivalent to English Gaylord
• gaminA homeless boy; a male street urchin; also (more generally), a cheeky, street-smart boy.
• harmoniumA small keyboard instrument that consists of a series of reed pipes, which sound when one of the keys is pressed to open a valve that allows air to pass through.
• PerraultA surname from French.
• orientalismThe tendency to represent eastern subjects, to assume stylistical characteristics original of the East, especially in 19th century Europe.
• LafitteA surname from French.
• inaugurateTo induct (someone) into a dignity or office with a formal ceremony.
• DupuyA surname from French.
• musculatureThe collection of all muscles in a single body or in a single organ.
• virionA single individual particle of a virus (the viral equivalent of a cell).
• GuilloryA surname from French, common among Louisiana Creoles.
• zainA horse of a dark colour with no lighter spots.
• TroyesA city, the capital of Aube department, in the region of Grand Est, France.
• diatonicRelating to or characteristic of a musical scale which contains seven pitches and a pattern of five whole tones and two semitones; particularly, of the major or natural minor scales.
• pelotonA group of riders formed during a cycling road race; especially, the main group of riders; the pack.
• RobillardA surname from French.
• tonsilAny of various small masses of lymphoid tissues.
• bombeA dessert made from ice cream frozen in a (generally spherical or hemispherical) mold.
• satyrA sylvan deity or demigod, male companion of Pan or Dionysus, represented as part man and part goat, and characterized by riotous merriment and lasciviousness, sometimes pictured with a perpetual erection.
• octroiA privilege granted by the sovereign authority, such as the exclusive right of trade granted to a guild or society; a concession.
• BacheletA surname from French
• BourbonnaisA historical province in the centre of France. Capital: Moulins.
• plebisciteA direct popular vote on an issue of public importance, such as an amendment to the constitution, a change in the sovereignty of the nation, or some government policy.
• emollientSomething which softens or lubricates the skin; moisturizer.
• maronAn alpine guide.
• molleflat; lowered by a semitone
• BeaudoinA surname from French.
• GarneauA surname from French
• CharronA surname from French.
• fondantA flavored, creamy sugar preparation, used for icing cakes or as a base for candies.
• vestigeA mark left on the earth by a foot.
• egoismThe tendency to think selfishly with exclusive self-interest in mind.
• cataclysmA sudden, violent event.
• RimbaudA surname from French.
• iconoclastOne who destroys religious images or icons, especially an opponent of the Orthodox Church in the 8th and 9th centuries, or a Puritan during the European Reformation.
• dessusThe highest voice or part, often a violin or soprano vocal line.
• bromeAny grass of the genus Bromus.
• dolmenA prehistoric megalithic tomb consisting of a capstone supported by two or more upright stones, most having originally been covered with earth or smaller stones to form a barrow.
• GivernyA village in Eure department, France.
• gaffeA foolish and embarrassing error, especially one made in public; a social blunder; a breach of etiquette.
• GuayA surname from French.
• LemaireA surname from French.
• dittonA motto or saying.
• corsageA small bouquet of flowers, originally worn attached to the bodice of a woman's dress.
• interventionistOf or pertaining to interventionism, or an advocate thereof.
• DelisleA surname from French.
• jacquetA game resembling backgammon.
• DuhamelA surname from French [in turn from Middle French].
• pasticheA work of art, drama, literature, music, or architecture that imitates the work of a previous artist, usually in a positive or neutral way.
• paralyticSomeone suffering from paralysis.
• VillarsA surname from French.
• AlbertineA female given name from the Germanic languages.
• costalPertaining to a rib.
• SafiA city in Marrakesh-Safi, Morocco.
• BoninA surname from French.
• ArtagnanA commune of Vic-en-Bigorre canton, Tarbes arrondissement, Hautes-Pyrénées department, Occitania, France.
• pralineA confection made from almonds and other nuts, caramelized sugar, and sometimes milk or cream.
• neroliMore fully neroli oil or oil of neroli: an essential oil distilled from the blossoms of the bitter orange or Seville orange (Citrus × aurantium subsp. amara) used to make perfumes.
• monokiniThe lower part of a bikini without the upper part (i.e., topless).
• balladeAny of various genres of single-movement musical pieces having lyrical and narrative elements.
• banalityThe quality of being banal.
• shallotAllium ascalonicum.
• faubourgAn outlying part of a city or town, beyond the walls; a suburb, especially of Paris, New Orleans, Montreal, or Quebec City.
• carapaceA hard protective covering of bone or chitin, especially one which covers the dorsal portion of an animal.
• patisserieA shop that sells pastries and cakes.
• ChauvinA surname from French.
• gratifyTo please.
• dauphineThe wife of the dauphin; dauphiness.
• MeuseA major river that flows about 901 km (560 mi) from France through Belgium and the Netherlands to the North Sea.
• ChabertA surname from French.
• ChicoutimiA former municipality and largest borough of Saguenay, Quebec, Canada.
• VaucluseA department of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France. Capital: Avignon (INSEE code 84).
• ostensibleApparent, evident; meant for open display.
• fourcheHaving the ends forked or branched, and the ends of the branches terminating abruptly as if cut off; said of an ordinary, especially of a cross.
• ententeAn informal alliance or friendly understanding between two states.
• reparteeA swift, witty reply, especially one that is amusing.
• ChambordA commune and town in Loir-et-Cher department, Centre-Val de Loire, France.
• rapprochementThe reestablishment of cordial relations, particularly between two countries; a reconciliation.
• polonaiseOf or pertaining to the Poles, or to Poland.
• TruexA surname.
• amazoneA woman's riding habit.
• tobogganA long sled without runners, with the front end curled upwards, which may be pulled across snow by a cord or used to coast down hills.
• LongueuilA city in the region of Montérégie, Quebec, Canada.
• LevertA surname from French.
• gendarmeA member of the gendarmerie, a military body charged with police duties.
• blagAn armed robbery or robbery involving violence; also, theft.
• palatialOf or relating to a palace.