esclandre

plural esclandres

1. countableuncountableAn incident that occasions much disapproving talk; scandalous conduct; a scene.

   "Not a word to my mother!" Pen cried out, in a state of great alarm. "She would never get over it. An esclandre of that sort would kill her, I do believe. […]"

   1850, William Makepeace Thackeray, chapter XVI, in Pendennis

   3 more examples

   The simple truth, if adhered to, might not have answered the purposes of the narrator, because lapses from conjugal fidelity are unhappily not crimes unknown or unpardonable in Italy; but when to it were added exaggerated representations of the disgraceful esclandre of a public elopement, and the death of the deserted husband, stated to have been caused by the misconduct of the wife, the utmost indignation was excited.

   1835, Countess of Blessington, chapter XLVI, in The Two Friends

   One might suppose that this flood of summonses caused consternation. It did not, because the boodlers were too strongly entrenched to fear an attack; bribery had been too long rampant to expect a sudden pruning and too many prominent St. Louisans were involved to permit the esclandre going very far.

   1904, Claude Hazeltine Wetmore, chapter IV, in The Battle Against Bribery: Being the Only Complete Narrative of Joseph W. Folk's Warfare on Boodlers, Including Also the Story of the Get-rich-quick Concerns and the Exposure of Bribery in the Missouri Legislature

   Castlereagh and Emily took Frederick under their care and tried to provide a steady influence for the boy. AfterEton he had initially attended Oxford, where—according to Walter Scott—"there was some esclandre or other which forced him to move to Edinburgh University […]

   2012, John Bew' Castlereagh: A Life, Chapter 19

2. archaiccountableuncountableInfamy.

   1 more example

   The old Lord had, wisely enough, settled in his will that Lucia was to enjoy the interest of her fortune from the time that she came out, provided she did not marry without her guardian's leave; and Scoutbush, to avoid esclandre and misery, thought it as well to waive the proviso, and paid her her dividends as usual.

   1901, Charles Kingsley, Two Years Ago, Volume I