VOCAB WK11
au con·traire
[oh kawN-tReR]
1. on the contrary.
2. on the opposite or adverse side.
coup d’etat
ku [koo]
noun, plural coups
kuz;Fr. kuShow Spelled[kooz; Fr. koo] Show IPA.
1. a highly successful, unexpected stroke, act, or move; a clever action or accomplishment.
2. the sudden unconstitutional overthrow of a government usually by the military; a quick and decisive extra-legal
seizure of governmental power by a small, organized group.
é·lan
[ey-lahn, ey-lan; Fr. ey-lahN]
noun
dash; impetuous ardor or enthusiasm: to dance with great élan.
es·prit de corps
[e-spree duh kawr]
noun
a sense of unity and of common interests and responsibilities, as developed among a group of persons closely
associated in a task, cause, enterprise, etc.
faux pas
[foh pah]
noun, plural faux pas
foʊ ˈpɑz;Fr. foʊ ˈpɑ [foh pahz; Fr. foh pah] .
a slip or blunder in etiquette, manners, or conduct; an embarrassing social blunder or indiscretion.
lais·sez faire
[les-ey fair; Fr. le-sey feR]
noun
1. the theory or system of government that upholds the autonomous character of the economic order, believing that
government should intervene as little as possible in the direction of economic affairs.
2. the practice or doctrine of noninterference in the affairs of others, especially with reference to individual conduct or
freedom of action.
nou·veau riche
[noo-voh reesh; Fr. noo-voh Reesh]
noun, plural nou·veaux riches [noo-voh reesh; Fr. noo-voh Reesh] .
a person who is newly rich: the ostentation of the nouveaux riches of the 1920s.
par ex·cel·lence
[pahr ek-suh-lahns, ek-suh-lans; Fr. pA-Rek-se-lahNs]
noun
being an example of excellence; superior; preeminent: a chef par excellence.
sa·voir-faire
[sav-wahr-fair; Fr. sA-vwAR-feR]
noun
knowledge of just what to do in any situation; tact.
tête-à-tête
[teyt-uh-teyt, tet-uh-tet; Fr. te-tA-tet] noun, plural tête-à-têtes, French tête-à-tête, adjective, adverb
noun
1. a private conversation or interview, usually between two people.
2. Also called vis-à-vis. a sofa shaped like an S so two people are able to converse face to face.