FOREIGN PHRASES I

a bas – down with

ab initio - from the beginning.

ab ovo - from the very beginning

absit omen - may what is threatened not happen

accouchement-childbirth

accoucheur- a male midwife

acharnement 1 – bloodthirsty fury; ferocity; gusto

a deux - for or between two

ad fin. - at or near the end

ad hoc - for a particular purpose

ad hominem - relating to a particular person; (of an argument) appealing to the emotions and not to reason

ad infinitum - without limit, for ever

ad interim - meanwhile

ad libitum, ad lib - freely, at pleasure, improvised

ad nauseam - to an excessive or disgusting degree

ad personam - to the person, personally

aet, aetat, aetatis ~ or of at the age of affaire - busy, involved

affaire de coeur- a love affair

a fond – completely, thoroughly

a fortiori - with the stronger reason, more conclusively

agent provocateur - someone employed to tempt suspected offenders into incriminating action

a huis clos -in private

aide-memoire - something to remind, a memorandum a la- after the manner of a la carte – ordered separately from a menu

a la mode - fashionable; (of beef) braised in wine

anglaise – in the English style

alter ego - a trusted friend; one’s secondary or alternative personality

amende honourable - an open apology, .perhaps with reparation

ameretto (p. amoretti) - a cupid amour proper- self-respect

ancient regime - the French political and social system before 1789; any superseded regime

anno aetatis suae - in the (specified) year of his/her age.

annus mirabilis - a remarkable or auspicious year

anschluss - unification, especially the annexation of Austria by Germany in 1938 apercu – a summary or survey; an insight

a posteriori - (of reasoning) inductive, proceeding from effects to causes appellation controlee- a label guaranteeing the quality of French wine.

a priori - (of reasoning) deductive, proceeding from causes to effects; not derived from experience; conjectural

arcus senilis - a narrow opaque band commonly encircling the cornea in old age. arriere-pensee - an undisclosed motive; a mental reservation artel – a Russian association of craftsmen, peasants, etc.

auberge – an inn

au courant - knowing what is going on, well-informed

au fait-having current knowledge, conversant

au fond-basically, at bottom

au gratin - cooked with a crisp crust of breadcrumbs or melted cheese

au naturel - raw, or cooked if) the simplest way

au revoir - goodbye (until we meet again)

avant-garde - innovators, especially in art or literature

bangaree - a scuffle or brawl

ballon d’essai - an experiment to test out a new policy

barege - a silky gauze made from wool or other material

beau geste — a noble gesture