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élan - 2 dictionary results

é⋅lan

  [ey-lahn, ey-lan; Fr. ey-lahn]
Use élan in a Sentence
–noun
dash; impetuous ardor: to dance with great élan.
Origin:
1875–80; F, MF eslan a dash, rush, n. deriv. of eslancer to dart, equiv. to es- ex- 1 + lancer to lance 1
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To élan
é·lan   (ā-läɴ', 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 lanceāre, to throw a lance, from Latin lancea, lance).]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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