FOREIGN WORDS AND EXPRESSIONS

1. a' la mode in the fashion, in

vogue.
2. albeit although.
3. avant garde pioneer in
movement of
art/literature.
4. ab initio from very
beginning.
5. ad hoc arranged for special
purpose.
6. au revoir until we meet
again.
7. ad interim meanwhile.
8. alma mater mother institution a
person attended.
9. ad valorem according to value.
10. annus mirabilis a wonderful year in
which great events
take place.

11. a'propos to the point, with

reference to.

12. alibi false plea of

absence.

13. ad nauseam to offensive limit.

14. alter ego a bosom friend,

one's other self.

15. alumni ex students of an

institution
(alumnus-singular)
16. ante meridiem time between
midnight and moon
(a.m.).
17. animus bad intention.

18. a priori deductive, to infer

fact from cause

19. amicus curiae friend of the court in

any judicial
proceeding
20. ad infinitum for indefinite period,
for even.
21. alpha and omega from beginning to
end.
FOREIGN WORDS AND EXPRESSIONS
22. alias otherwise, nick
name.

23. amour propre self love, vanity

24. Anno Domini in the Christian era

(AD) after the death
of.

25. agent provocateur a secret agent

employed to find
the suspected
criminals.
26. blitzkreig lightning attack.
27. bona fide in a good faith,
sincere.
28. bon voyage pleasant journey to
you.
29. bourgeoisie middle class.
30. bete noire an object of dislike.

31. bonhomie pleasantness of

manners.

32. carte blanche full freedom of

action.

33. communique official intimation or

note.

34. casus belli act/event leading to

war.
35. coup d'etat violent or
unconstitutional
change in
government.
36. circa about (born circa
150 BC).

37. chaperon a person (usually

elderly lady) who
accompanies a
young girl.

38. commune bonum the common good.

39. coiffeur hair dresser.

FOREIGN WORDS AND EXPRESSIONS
40. charge d' affairs one who acts as an
ambassador.

41. coup de grace the final blow.

42. coiffure style of hair

dressing.

43. couturier man dress

designer.

44. couturiere woman dress

designer.

45. canard a rumour, a hoax.

46. cuisine the brand of cooked

food.

47. cause celebre a very notable trial.

48. detenu a prisoner.

49. de tour indirect way.

50. de novo afresh.
51. debut first appearance on
stage or in any
event.

52. debutant one making first

appearance (male).

53. debutante one making first

appearance
(female).

54. detente easing of strained

relations.

55. de jure according to law, by

right.

56. de facto in fact, real.

57. demarche a political

step/presentation.
58. deja vu a feeling that
something has
happened before.
FOREIGN WORDS AND EXPRESSIONS

59. denoument final conclusion in a

play.

60. dramatis personae characters in a

play.

61. emeritus retired but retaining

honorary title on
merit.

62. elite select, choice.

63. en bloc in a group,

collectively.

64. entrenous between ourselves.

65. en masse in a mass.

66. ex gratia as a matter of

grace, favour.
67. ex post facto by subsequent act.

68. en route on the way to.

69. esprit de corps spirit of belonging

to one organisation.

70. ex officio by virtue of one's

post.

71. ennui boredome.

72. ex parte done not in the

presence of other.

73. elan dashing spirit.

74. et al and other people.

75. exempli gratia e.g., for example.

76. enfant terrible one who is a

source of trouble.

77. entente understanding

between the two
states.
FOREIGN WORDS AND EXPRESSIONS

78. entourage a person's

subordinates.

79. forte a person's special

talent.

80. fait accompli an accomplished

fact.

81. fiance a man to whom one

is engaged to
marry.

82. fiancee a woman to whom

one is engaged to
marry.

83. gratis free of charge.

84. genre a style, a particular
kind.

85. hauteur haughtiness.

86. hors de combat out of combat,
disabled.
87. homo sapiens men as thinking
people.
88. ipso facto really, by that very
fact.
89. ibid in the same
book/chapter.
90. impasse deadlock.
91. id est i.e., (that is to say).
92. infra dig below one's dignity.
93. inter alia among other things.

94. in camera not open to public.

95. instant of this month.

96. joie de vivre joy of living.

97. laissez faire free from

government
control/interference.

98. locus standi right to be heard, to

interfere.
FOREIGN WORDS AND EXPRESSIONS
99. lingua franca common language
spoken by people.

100. literatur literary person.

101. literati literary persons.
102. lacuna shortcoming, gap.
103. leitmolif a recurring theme.
104. melange mixture, blending,
medley.
105. mutatis mutandis with necessary
changes.
106. menage household,
domestic.
107. mala fide in bad faith.

108. modus vivandi way of living.

109. modus operandi method of dealing

with work.

110. magnum opus a great book, a

work of art.

111. melee mixed fight,

stampede.

112. matinee morning (after

noon).

113. nouveaux riches people who are

newly rich.

114. Nota Bene take note.

115. nom de plume pen name,
assumed name.

116. nexus bond, link,

connection.
117. non pareil incomparable,
unparallel.

118. nee name used after

the name of
married woman to
indicate father's
family name.
119. outre exaggerated.

120. obiter dictum passing remark.

FOREIGN WORDS AND EXPRESSIONS

121. persona non grata a person not

acceptable.

122. persona grata a person

acceptable.

123. pro rata in proportion.

124. per se by itself.

125. par excellence excellent, superb.

126. pot pourri mixture, musical,

medley.

127. post meridiem afternoon (p.m.).

128. prima facie based on the first

impression.

129. proletarian a member of poor

class.

130. pari passu at an equal

rate/pace.

131. parole prisoner's word of

honour.

132. protege one who is

patronised by
others.

133. quid pro quo something given or

returned as an
equivalent of
something (tit for
tat).

134. raison d'etre reson for existence,

real purpose.
135. rendezvous private meeting
place.

136. reposte repartee, retort.

FOREIGN WORDS AND EXPRESSIONS
137. R.S.V.P. respondez's ilvous
plait (reply, if you
please).

138. religio loci the religious feeling

of a place.

139. resume a summary, an

abstract.

140. sang froid coolness in trying

condition.
141. status quo the same position.

142. sine die for an indefinite

period.

143. sub judice under

consideration.

144. sobriquet pseudonym.

145. summum bonum chief good.

146. sans without, deprived

of.

147. sine qua non indispensable

condition to achieve
something.

148. sanctum sanctorum the holy of holies

149. son et lu miere a historical play

staged with sound
and light.

150. suo moto on one's own.

151. tour de force a feat of strength or

skill.

152. tete o tete a private

conversation, face
to face.

153. ultra vires beyond one's

authority.
FOREIGN WORDS AND EXPRESSIONS
154. via through.

155. versus against.

156. viva voce an oral test.

157. viz namely, that is to

say.

158. vice versa in opposite ways.

159. vide see, refer.

160. via media middle course.

161. vox populi von dei voice of the people

is the voice of God.

162. vox populi voice of the people.

163. vendetta family feud.

164. vis-a-vis directly opposite to.

165. volte face a complete turn

about, reversal of
policy.

166. xerox a photocopy.

167. zeitgeist contemporary spirit.