Word origins

• RamessideOf, relating to, or characteristic of the Ramesside period of ancient Egyptian history, named such after its eleven pharaohs named Ramesses.
• ramierAny of several Caribbean pigeons, but especially Columba squamosa
• ramollissementA morbid softening of some organ or tissue of the body.
• ramoneurA chimney sweep.
• rancherieA First Nations residential area within an Indian reserve in British Columbia.
• randanniteA variety of diatomaceous earth found in Randan, Puy-de-Dôme, France.
• randonnéeA walk or excursion.
• randyvooA house where the neighbours gather for a chat.
• rapportageThe reporting of social news, especially by an eyewitness.
• rasantsweeping; flanking
• rascasseScorpaena scrofa, the red scorpionfish.
• RascolA surname.
• ratafiaA liqueur or cordial flavored with peach or cherry kernels, bitter almonds, or other fruits.
• ratéan unsuccessful person; a failure
• ravelinA kind of outwork; a freestanding, wedge-shaped fortification used to split an attacking force as they approach a larger fortress.
• ravierA trolley used for food selection in restaurants or cafes.
• RaybaudA surname from French [in turn from Occitan].
• rebarbativeIrritating, repellent.
• RebertA surname.
• recamierAn old-fashioned couch with headrest and footrest.
• réchaufféA dish of food that has been reheated.
• recherchéSought out and chosen with care; choice; exquisite.
• recherche du temps perduRemembrance of things past.
• redactor-in-chiefAn editor-in-chief.
• RedangeA canton of Luxembourg, located in the west of the country.
• redingoteA long coat or greatcoat for men.
• refletlustre; brilliancy of a surface; used especially in ceramics to denote the peculiar metallic brilliancy seen in lustred pottery such as majolica
• reformatorA reformer.
• regalianOf or pertaining to a royal ruler
• RégenceOf or pertaining to the style of French furniture and decoration of c. 1680–1725, characteristic of the regency of Philippe II, Duke of Orléans.
• reglementaryregulatory
• regletA strip of wood or metal of the height of a quadrat, used for regulating the space between pages in a chase, and also for spacing out title pages and other open matter.
• regrateto grate again
• reinetteAny of various kinds of apple, mostly of French origin, characterized by russeting.
• RejeanneA female given name from French; feminine of Rejean
• reliquairereliquary (container)
• remblaiEarth or materials made into an embankment after excavation.
• remipedeAny of several small, marine, cave-dwelling crustaceans, of the class Remipedia, characterized by a short head and a long trunk bearing setose swimming appendages
• remisieran agent of a stockbroking company who receives a commission for each transaction handled
• remontantThat flowers more than once in each season.
• remontoirA device in a clock which provides a regular impulse to the pendulum.
• remplissageThe use of part of the infraspinatus tendon to fill in a humeral defect.
• remuageThe process by which sediment in a wine bottle is drawn to the bottle’s neck where it can be removed.
• remueurA worker who turns wine bottles to facilitate remuage.
• renifleurA paraphiliac who derives sexual pleasure from certain smells.
• Rennes-le-ChâteauA village in Aude department, France.
• renversementA reversal or turning backwards; turnaround.
• repertibleSynonym of findable: able to be found.
• repiqueIn piquet, a bonus of 60 points awarded to a player who scores 30 points during the declaration phase, prior to the opponent scoring anything.
• repoussageThe art or process of hammering out or pressing thin metal from the reverse side, either to produce decorative work or to level up part of an etched plate that has been worked so as to cause a depression.
• repousséA metalworking technique in which a malleable metal is ornamented or shaped by hammering from the reverse side.
• repoussoirThe use of an object such as a curtain extremely close up to the picture plane in a painting. This originates from Baroque paintings and is used to create depth
• réseauA system of lines forming small squares of standard size, which is photographed, by a separate exposure, on the same plate with star images to facilitate measurements, detect changes of the film, etc.
• ressautA projection in an entablature.
• ressentimentA sense of resentment arising from deep-seated feelings of envy or hatred, leading the resentful one to blame it on an external agent.
• restaurateuseA female restaurateur.
• restauratriceA female restaurateur.
• restavecA child sent by their parents to work for another household as a domestic servant.
• retableA table or shelf behind an altar, on which are placed images or holy objects.
• retardataireanachronistic, dated, especially in artistic style.
• RéunionAn island, overseas department, and administrative region of France, located in the Indian Ocean to the west of Mauritius and to the east of Madagascar.
• revertentHaving reverted to a previous (more basic or more natural) state.
• revetTo face (an embankment, etc.) with masonry, wood, or other material.
• revivifyTo reanimate, bring back to life.
• RhôneA department of Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France.
• rhum agricoleA form of rum specifically distilled from fresh sugarcane juice.
• rianteCheerful, agreeable (chiefly of a place, landscape etc.); pleasing to look at.
• RichardotA surname from French.
• RichouxA surname from French.
• rien ne va plusIn roulette, an announcement made by the croupier while the wheel is spinning and no more bets can be placed.
• rimayea crevasse at the upper end of a mountain glacier.
• risquéSlightly sexually suggestive; bordering on indelicate.
• risquéeUsed when referring to a woman: feminine of risqué
• rissoleA ball of meat, some variants covered in pastry, which has been fried or barbecued.
• rite de passageSynonym of rite of passage.
• riverainOf or pertaining to rivers or their surrounding environments.
• Rivesaltesgrenache wine
• rivièreA necklace of diamonds or other precious stones, especially one of several strings.
• RoaixA surname.
• robe à la françaiseA sack-back
• robe de chambredressing gown
• robe decolleteA low-cut dress for women.
• robe montanteA high-necked dress.
• robe volanteA type of flowy, hanging, voluminous dress worn in the 18th century.
• RobicheauA surname from French.
• RobideauA surname from French.
• rocamboleThe sand leek, Allium scorodoprasum
• rocambolesqueFantastic, incredible, fabulous.
• RochechouartA commune and small town in Haute-Vienne department, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France.
• RochegudeA village in Drôme department, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France.
• rodomontA vain or blustering boaster; a braggart.
• rodomontadeVain boasting; a rant; pretentious behaviour.
• rogatorySeeking information or evidence, especially from a foreign court
• roman à clefA piece of fiction, especially a novel, describing real-life people or events.
• roman à thèseA “thesis novel”: a novel that is didactic rather than entertaining, often taking the form of social commentary.
• roman à tiroirsA piece of fiction, especially a novel, in which the principal or main narrative (or "frame story") is interrupted by secondary narratives.
• RomandyThe French-speaking part of Switzerland.
• rompuBroken, as an ordinary; cut off, or broken at the top, as a chevron, a bend, etc.
• rond de jambeThe movement of a leg in a semicircular motion, either on the ground (par terre) or in the air (en l'air).
• ronde-bosseSculpture in the round.