French Words Flashcards
(7 cards)
Sangfroid
Sangfroid literally means cold-blooded. It is defined as calmness and poise, especially in trying
situations.
The hostage negotiator exhibited a sangfroid that oftentimes was more menacing than the sword at his throat or the gun at his head.
Parvenu
This is a person who has recently acquired wealth, and has therefore risen in class. Parvenu has a derogatory connotation, meaning that if you win the lottery and someone calls you a parvenu they are not trying to be flattering.
A person who has recently gained wealth or influence but is not yet accepted socially by the higher class — often seen as pretentious or lacking refinement.
**Parvenue” sounds like “newly viewed” **
New money / class
The theater was full of parvenus who each thought that they were flanked by aristocrats.
🔹 Despite his millions, the old-money elite still saw him as a parvenu.
🔹 The parvenu’s lavish tastes betrayed a lack of refinement.
Demur
Demur means to object or express reluctance to do something. Demur should not be confused with demure, which as an adjective that means coy.
When asked if she wanted to visit the war torn region without a translator by his side, the journalist demurred.
Arriviste
This word is similar to parvenu (though arriviste connotes more ruthless ambition). It came into the language much more recently, circa 1900.
Someone who has ambitiously risen to power, wealth, or status — often viewed as aggressively self-promoting or ruthlessly ambitious.
“Arrive + beast”
The city center was aflutter with arrivistes who each tried to outdo one another with their
ostentatious sports cars and chic evening dress.
🔹 Her rapid promotion and shameless networking earned her a reputation as an arriviste.
🔹 The boardroom was full of arrivistes clawing their way to the top.
Melee
I learned melee early in my life, because I had the peculiar misfortune of having a surname that rhymes with it. While none of this schoolyard teasing resulted in any melees, melee is an important word and
means a wild, confusing fight or struggle.
melee like bruce lee, famous for fight - confused fight
“mêlée” = mixture, confused fight
Despite the scornful stares from entrenched aristocrats, the parvenu walked blithely about the palace grounds, maintaining his sangfroid and demurring to enter into the melees that the snobbish were so fond of baiting arrivistes into.
🔹 The protest devolved into a melee when counter-demonstrators arrived.
🔹 A melee broke out at the concert after someone jumped the barricade.
🔹 The store descended into a melee during the holiday sale.
Lagniappe
This word looks like it got jumbled up while I was typing.. in the 19th Century, a lagniappe was any unexpected gift.
I doubt you’ll ever see it on the test—but if lagniappe happens to show up on the test, then consider it an unexpected gift.
The islanders thought that the seafarers had brought them a lagniappe when the latter presented them with gold coins; little did the islanders know that their days of bartering were numbered.
Picayune
Derived from Cajun via Provencal France, picayune refers not only to a coin but also to an amount that is trifling or meager. It can also refer to a person who is petty. Therefore, if I’m being picayune, I’m fussing over some trivial point.
Something trivial, petty, or of little value or importance
pick a yawn→ when someone brings something so trivial it makes you yawn.
English teachers are notorious for being picayune; however, the English language is so nuanced and sophisticated that often such teachers are not being contrary but are only adhering to the rules.
*
🔹 Let’s not get bogged down in picayune details — we need the big picture.
🔹 Her criticism was so picayune it bordered on obsessive.
🔹 The judge dismissed the case as a picayune squabble between neighbors.*
