Élan

é·lan (ā-läN, ā-län)
n.

1. Enthusiastic vigor and liveliness.
2. Distinctive style or flair.


[French, from Old French eslan, rush, from eslancer, to hurl : es-, out (from Latin ex-. See ex-) + lancer, to throw (from Late Latin lancāere, to throw a lance, from Latin lancea, lance).]

Agog

a·gog (ə-gŏg')
adj.

Full of keen anticipation or excitement; eager.

[Middle English agogge, from Old French en gogue, in merriment : en, in (from Latin in. See in-2) + gogue, merriment.]

Gerund

ger·und (jĕr'ənd)
n.

1. In Latin, a noun derived from a verb and having all case forms except the nominative.
2. In other languages, a verbal noun analogous to the Latin gerund, such as the English form ending in -ing when used as a noun, as in singing in We admired the choir's singing.


[Late Latin gerundium, from alteration (modeled on participium, participle), of Latin gerundum variant of gerendum, neuter gerundive of gerere, to carry on.]

Mellifluous

mel·lif·lu·ous (mə-lĭf'lōō-əs)
adj.

1. Flowing with sweetness or honey.
2. Smooth and sweet: “polite and cordial, with a mellifluous, well-educated voice” (H.W. Crocker III).


[Middle English, from Late Latin mellifluus : Latin mel, mell-, honey; see melit- in Indo-European Roots + Latin -fluus, flowing; see bhleu- in Indo-European Roots.]

Manqué

man·qué (mäN-kā')
adj.

Unfulfilled or frustrated in the realization of one's ambitions or capabilities: an artist manqué; a writer manqué.


[French, from past participle of manquer, to fail, from Old French, from Old Italian mancare, from manco, lacking, from Latin mancus, maimed, infirm.]

Cucurbit

cu·cur·bit (kyōō-kûr'bĭt)
n.

1. Any of various mostly climbing or trailing plants of the family Cucurbitaceae, which includes the squash, pumpkin, cucumber, gourd, watermelon, and cantaloupe.
2. A gourd-shaped flask forming the body of an alembic, formerly used in distillation.


[Middle English cucurbite, from Old French, from Latin cucurbita, gourd.]

Peripatetic

per·i·pa·tet·ic (pĕr'ə-pə-tĕt´ĭk)
adj.

1. Walking about or from place to place; traveling on foot.
2. Peripatetic Of or relating to the philosophy or teaching methods of Aristotle, who conducted discussions while walking about in the Lyceum of ancient Athens.

n.

1. One who walks from place to place; an itinerant.
2. Peripatetic A follower of the philosophy of Aristotle; an Aristotelian.


[Middle English peripatetik, from Latin peripatēticus, from Greek peripatētikos, from peripatein, to walk about, or from peripatos, covered walk (where Aristotle allegedly lectured) : peri-, peri- + patein, to walk; see pent- in Indo-European Roots.]