Word origins

• AlfortvilleA commune in Val-de-Marne department, Île-de-France, France.
• algarotA pale white emetic powder formerly used in alchemy, consisting of a compound of trichloride and trioxide of antimony.
• algesiasensitivity to pain
• alidadeA type of sighting device used for measuring angles.
• alienismThe fact or position of being an alien; alienage.
• aligotA dish traditionally made in the south of Auvergne from melted Tomme cheese blended into mashed potatoes, often with garlic.
• alizariThe madder of the Levant; wild madder (Rubia peregrina).
• AlizéA female given name.
• alléeAn alley in a formal garden or park, bordered by trees or bushes.
• alley oopEncouraging or calling attention to a physical performance, especially one involving an upwards lift or leap.
• alloglotSpeaking a non-native language.
• allongeA slip of paper attached to a negotiable instrument to hold endorsements should the document itself be unable to hold any more.
• allonymA pseudonym, (particularly) another person's name used as a pseudonym by the author of a work.
• alloyageThe act or art of alloying metals.
• almadieA canoe made from tree bark, formerly used in Africa.
• aloseEuropean shad (Alosa alosa); the allice or allis.
• AlphanderyA surname from French [in turn from Arabic].
• alphenicWhite barley sugar
• alquifouA lead ore found in Cornwall, England, and used to give a green glaze to pottery.
• alter-Denotes a philosophy in opposition to or variation on the suffixed term.
• alterneOne of two or more plant communities that alternate with one another across a landscape with sharp boundaries, lacking an ecotone.
• AltessHighness.
• AmazonomachiaA battle with Amazons (“mythical female warriors thought to inhabit the Black Sea region”); also (art), an artistic representation of such a scene.
• ambassadrySynonym of ambassadorship.
• Ambérieu-en-BugeyA commune in Ain department, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France.
• ambiguAn entertainment at which a medley of dishes is set on at the same time; a buffet.
• ambretteThe musk mallow plant (Abelmoschus moschatus).
• ambulancierambulanceman; paramedic
• âme damnéeSomeone who is utterly devoted to another and willing to carry out difficult or disagreeable tasks for them; a simp.
• amende honorableA public confession and apology.
• amidinStarch modified by heat so as to become a transparent mass, like horn. It is soluble in cold water.
• amollishmentSoftening; mollification; appeasing; mitigation.
• amorceA hint about the future; an instance of foreshadowing.
• amour propreSelf-regard, self-esteem.
• ampelographyThe discipline within botany concerned with the taxonomy of cultivars in the grapevine genus, Vitis.
• amphibologyAmphiboly.
• amphigoryA nonsense verse; a rigmarole, which is meaningless despite possibly appearing to have meaning.
• amphiptereA type of winged serpent, with two bat-like wings and typically with no other limbs.
• amputeTo amputate (a limb).
• amuse-boucheA bite-sized hors d'oeuvre or appetizer that is served before a meal.
• amusetteA light field cannon, or stocked gun mounted on a swivel.
• amygdaleAn almond-shaped inclusion in igneous rock or lava.
• anacyclicpalindromic
• anagrammatistA creator or finder of anagrams.
• anastomoseTo join (two or more things) by anastomosis, to interconnect forming a network.
• anatronnative carbonate of soda; natron
• andouilletteA small andouille (type of sausage).
• AndoyA male given name from Cebuano, variant of Andy
• AndrinA surname from French.
• angaryThe right of one belligerent (government) in a conflict to seize, use or destroy the property of another belligerent or neutral state, or the private citizens thereof, provided compensation is paid.
• AngelierA surname from French.
• angéliqueA plucked bowl lute with two necks and most often sixteen strings, played in the manner of a harp, and popular in Baroque Europe.
• angelotA French gold coin from the reign of Louis XI, bearing the image of Saint Michael
• angiotenicThat is thought to stretch the blood vessels
• AngoumoisA geographic region, former county, and former province of France, with Angoulême as its capital; nearly corresponding to the modern-day Charente department, Nouvelle-Aquitaine.
• animalierAn artist who depicts animals.
• animalityThe nature of an animal.
• animateurOne who promotes particular activity, especially one of a cultural or artistic nature.
• animatriceA woman who is trained to teach skills and lead activities for her peers.
• animéThe resin of the courbaril (Hymenaea courbaril), used in varnishes.
• AnkouThe personification of death in Celtic mythology.
• annalistA writer of annals; a chronicler; a historian.
• antijacobinA political opponent of the Jacobins.
• antipathicCharacterized by antipathy.
• antipodismA form of foot juggling where the juggler lies on his or her back, usually on a sort of chair.
• antipodistOne who practices antipodism; one who juggles using his or her feet lying down.
• antiveninSynonym of antivenom, (now) particularly for snakebites containing venin.
• Antoine-LabelleA regional county municipality of Laurentides, Quebec, Canada.
• AntoingA city in Hainaut, Wallonia, Belgium
• AntrasA village in Ariège department, Occitania, France.
• aoudadThe Barbary sheep, Ammotragus lervia.
• AoussouA 40-day period between the 25th of July and the 2nd of September, characterized by high humidity and high temperatures on some days.
• à outranceTo the greatest extent, to the utmost.
• apanageA grant (especially by a sovereign) of land (or other source of revenue) as a birthright.
• aperçuA clever or insightful distillation; an aphorism.
• apericubeA cube-shaped cheese-based food usually eaten with an apéritif.
• apéritifAn alcoholic drink served before a meal as an appetiser.
• aphylacticOf a map projection: Neither conformal or equal-area.
• apicultorSynonym of beekeeper.
• aplomeA brown or green variety of andradite containing manganese.
• apneistA free-diver.
• apologueA short story with a moral, often involving talking animals or objects; a fable.
• appauméOpen and extended so as to show the palm with thumb and fingers at full length.
• appertisationpreservation of food by canning (or a similar earlier method using glass bottles)
• appetenceThe state or action of desiring or craving.
• aprèsAfter.
• après-Used to describe an event, phenomenon, etc. that occurs after a specified activity; after-.
• après-skiEntertainment, nightlife or social events that take place at a ski resort, after the skiing.
• à propos de bottesApropos of nothing; without connection to anything; by the way, unrelatedly.
• aquapharyngealOf or pertaining to the bulb-like anterior part of a sea cucumber, containing the pharynx and water vascular system.
• araneologyThe study of the spider, a branch of arachnology.
• arbasA left tributary of the Salat in Haute-Garonne department, Occitania, France.
• arbitragistOne who engages in arbitrage.
• arborescenceA tree-like structure.
• arbusta bush, shrub
• arcatureA small arched passageway.
• arc boutantSynonym of flying buttress.
• arc-boutantSynonym of flying buttress.
• Arc de TriompheA war monument in Paris, France, designed by Jean Chalgrin in 1806, started in 1808 and inaugurated in 1836.
• archaeologueAn antiquarian; an archaeologist.