Word origins

• art decoA style of decorative art (often used in household objects) and architecture originating in the 1920s and 1930s, characterized by bold geometric forms, strong contrasting colours, and simple composition.
• art for art's sakeArt with no function; whose only purpose is beauty.
• ArtiguesA village and commune of Ariège department, Occitania, France.
• art nouveauA decorative style of art and architecture that especially used the sinuous and flowing lines of plants.
• ascendeurA metal grip that attaches to a rope sling and can be tightened to hold a climber or loosened to allow the climber to move.
• ascensorAn elevator.
• ashetA large, shallow, oval dish used for serving food.
• asineshe-ass.
• AsnièresAny of numerous communes in France.
• aspirated hIn the French language, usage of the letter h at the start of a word which does not allow liaison with a preceding consonant or elision of a preceding schwa.
• assartForest land cleared for agriculture.
• assationRoasting, baking.
• assecutionacquisition; an obtaining
• assembléA jump that takes off from one foot and lands on both feet.
• assignatA banknote used during the French Revolution, on the security of state land.
• as who should sayas if one should say, as if to say; so to say; in a manner of speaking.
• a tauntoOf a ship, especially a tall square-rigged one: in which all running rigging is hauled taut; having all spars hoisted aloft; having all sails set.
• atomic pileAn early nuclear reactor fueled by uranium and moderated with graphite.
• à troisFor or between three parties. Often used in reference to alliances.
• atrousJet-black in color.
• attachéA diplomatic officer, usually one who plays a specific role.
• attack au ferAn attack on the opponent's blade, e.g. beat, expulsion, pressure
• atteleta small decorative metal skewer used for serving food
• attentismeA policy of waiting; a waiting game.
• attrapTo entrap; to ensnare.
• aubaineThe inheritance of the property of an unnaturalized foreigner, in particular in France during feudalism and the Ancien Régime.
• aubergisteAn innkeeper or landlord in French-speaking countries.
• au contraireOn the contrary.
• au courantUp to date; informed about the latest developments; abreast.
• AuderghemA municipality of Brussels, Brussels Capital Region, Belgium.
• AudettA surname from French.
• audiencierA bailiff in certain French courts.
• auditiveOf or relating to hearing; auditory.
• AudureauA surname from French.
• au faitBeing familiar with or informed about something.
• au fonddeep down, in the end
• AugierA surname from French.
• au gratinCovered with a crust of breadcrumbs (and often cheese) then browned under a grill.
• au jusPrepared or served in or with gravy made from its own juices.
• au mieuxOn intimate terms.
• au naturelOf a person: not wearing makeup and with one's natural hair colour.
• au pairOn a working basis by which work done by one party is rewarded by benefits (especially board and lodging) rather than by monetary remuneration.
• AurèsThe Aurès Mountains, located in northeastern Algeria.
• au revoirGoodbye; till we meet again.
• AurignacA village in Haute-Garonne department, France.
• aurora sauceA kind of creamy tomato sauce.
• Austral OceanThe Southern Ocean.
• autofictionA blend of autobiography and fiction; faction.
• autogestionself-management (joint control by workers and management)
• automatizeTo make or become automatic.
• automobilistThe driver of an automobile.
• AuzenneA surname from French.
• avalementA technique of flexing the knees while skiing.
• avant-corpsA part of a building, such as a porch or pavilion, that juts out from the corps de logis, often taller than other parts of the building.
• avant-courierA person dispatched before another person or company, to give notice of his or their approach; a scout or herald.
• avant-gardismthe novel, experimental approach of the avant-garde
• avant la lettreBefore the term was coined (the term being a word or phrase used just previously in an anachronistic way)
• avant-texteThe study of a written work by analyzing the process of composition, including prior manuscripts, rough drafts, etc.
• aviophobiaFear of flying.
• avoyerA chief magistrate of various free imperial cities or cantons of Switzerland.
• AvrechyA commune in Oise department, Hauts-de-France, France.
• axiniteA borosilicate of aluminum, iron, and lime, commonly found in glassy, brown crystals with acute edges.
• axungeFat or grease, especially of a pig or goose.
• AydelotteA surname from French.
• aye-ayeThe lemur Daubentonia madagascariensis, a solitary nocturnal quadruped found in Madagascar and remarkable for their long fingers, sharp nails, and rodent-like incisor teeth.
• azaroleAny member of the species Crataegus azarolus of shrubs of southern Europe, related to hawthorn.
• azedarachAn Asiatic tree (Melia azedarach), common in the southern United States, commonly called bead tree, chinaberry, etc.
• azotateA nitrate (any salt or ester of nitric acid).
• azotosomeA theoretical nitrogen-based counterpart to liposome structures composed of acrylonitrile self-assembled membrane in a liquid methane bath
• baba au rhumA yeast cake soaked in a syrup containing rum.
• babillardThe lesser whitethroat of Europe
• baboucheA Turkish or Moroccan slipper having no heel.
• BabouvistA supporter or follower of François-Noël Babeuf or his ideas, including universal equal income and the abolition of private property.
• babuinaA female baboon.
• BachelardianOf or relating to Gaston Bachelard (1884–1962), French philosopher.
• backetA shallow wooden trough for carrying ashes, coals, etc.
• BacotA surname from French.
• baculeA rod-like element on the surface of some pollen.
• badaudA person given to idle observation of everything, with wonder or astonishment; a credulous or gossipy idler.
• badelaireA short sword with a heavy, curved blade and S-shaped quillions.
• bad faithThe misrepresentation of one's own true motive.
• badianStar anise.
• badigeonA cement or paste (often made with plaster and freestone, or of sawdust and glue or lime) used by sculptors and builders to fill holes, cover defects, or finish a surface.
• badinagePlayful raillery; banter.
• badineA short, decorated switch or rod, carried by the fashionable in the 18th and 19th centuries.
• badinerieA brief and lively dance.
• Bagnères-de-LuchonA city in Haute-Garonne department, Occitania, France.
• bahutA portable coffer or chest with a rounded lid covered in leather, garnished with nails, once used for the transport of clothes or other personal luggage. It was the original portmanteau.
• Baie VerteA town in Newfoundland, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.
• Baine HarbourA town in Newfoundland, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.
• bain-marieA large pan containing hot water, into which other smaller pans are set in order to cook food slowly, or to keep food warm.
• baisemainsrespects; compliments
• balancelleA garden seat in the form of a swing.
• balançoireSwinging the working leg between front and back through first position, usually in conjunction with grands battements or attitudes and involving seesaw-like shifting of the upper body in opposition to the legs.
• balayageA hair colouring technique in which colour is applied by hand.
• balayeuseA protecting ruffle or frill, as of silk or lace, sewn close to the lower edge of a skirt on the inside.
• baldacchinA rich, embroidered brocade used for clothing in the Middle Ages, the web being gold and the woof silk.
• BalducA surname from French.
• balghaA type of North African leather slippers used as general footwear.
• balizeA pole, post or frame used as a sea beacon or road waymark.