engagé

engagé |ˌä ng gäˈ zh ā|adjective(of a writer, artist, or their works) morally committedto a particular aim or cause.

pistillation

† pistillation, n.

[‘Pounding with a pestle.’]

Etymology: <  classical Latin pistillum (see pestle n.) + -ation suffix.

 Obs. rare.

  Pounding with a pestle.

1646  Sir T. Browne Pseudodoxia Epidemica ii. v. 83 They submit unto pistillation, and resist not an ordinary pestle.

1683  R. Dixon Canidia iii. xv. 115 Whether 'tis worth a Revelation,..If Diamonds yield to Pistillation?

1797  J. A. Fahrenkrüger N. Bailey's Wörterbuch (ed. 9) II. 446/1 Stampfen, n. stamping, beating, braying, pounding, pistillation.

psithurisma

† psithurisma, n.

[‘Whispering; a whispering noise.’]

Forms: α.   18 psithurisma.  β.   18 psithurism. 

Etymology: <  Hellenistic Greek ψιθύρισμα (also ψιθυρισμός) (noun) whispering <  ancient Greek ψιθυρίζειν to whisper (probably <  ψίθυρος (adjective) whispering, slanderous, of uncertain origin + -ίζειν -ize suffix, although the adjective may be derived from the verb) + -ισμα (also -ισμός) -ism suffix.

N.E.D. (1909) gives the headword form as psithurism with the pronunciation as (psi·þiŭriz'm) /ˈpsɪθjʊərɪz(ə)m/.

 Obs.

  Whispering; a whispering noise.

1848  L. Hunt Jar of Honey 61 There is the continuous whisper in psithurisma.

1856  J. E. Cooke Last of Foresters xxxii. 192 A murmurous laughter of mocking winds arose at times, and rustled on, and died away into the psithurisma of Theocritus.

1872  M. Collins Princess Clarice II. xix. 218 Psithurism of multitudinous leaves made ghostly music.

1883 Cent. Mag. Oct. 932/2 The popularity of our new hexameter with simple readers who know little of the Homeric roll, the Sicilian psithurisma, or Virgil's liquid flow, has been demonstrated.

cavalier

cavalier |ˌkavəˈli(ə)r|noun1 ( Cavalier) historical a supporter of King Charles I in the English Civil War.• archaic or poetic/literary a courtly gentleman, esp. one acting as a lady's escort.• archaic a horseman, esp. a cavalryman.2 (also Cavalier King Charles) a small spaniel of a breed with a moderately long, noncurly, silky coat.adjectiveshowing a lack of proper concern; offhand : Anne was irritated by his cavalier attitude.DERIVATIVES

eclaircissement

éclaircissement |āˌklersēsˈmä n |noun archaic or poetic/literaryan enlightening explanation of something, typically someone's conduct, that has been hitherto inexplicable.

bailiff

bailiff |ˈbālif|nouna person who performs certain actions under legal authority, in particular• an official in a court of law who keeps order, looks after prisoners, etc.• chiefly Brit. a sheriff's officer who executes writs and processes and carries out distraints and arrests.• Brit. the agent or steward of a landlord.

wont

wont |wônt; wōnt|adjective [ predic. ] poetic/literary(of a person) in the habit of doing something; accustomed : he was wont to arise at 5:30 every morning.noun ( one's wont) formal or humorousone's customary behavior in a particular situation :Constance, as was her wont, had paid her little attention.verb ( 3rd sing. present wonts or wont ; past wont orwonted ) archaicmake or be or become accustomed : [ trans. ] wont thy heart to thoughts hereof | [ intrans. ] sons wont to nurse their parents in old age.

palliate

palliate |ˈpalēˌāt|verb [ trans. ]make (a disease or its symptoms) less severe orunpleasant without removing the cause : treatment works by palliating symptoms.• allay or moderate (fears or suspicions) : this eliminated, or at least palliated, suspicions aroused byGerman unity.• disguise the seriousness or gravity of (an offense) :there is no way to excuse or palliate his dirty deed.

diffident

diffident |ˈdifidənt|adjectivemodest or shy because of a lack of self-confidence : a diffident youth.

éclat

éclat |āˈklä|nounbrilliant display or effect : she came into prominence briefly but with éclat.• social distinction or conspicuous success : such action bestows more éclat upon a warrior than success by other means.ORIGIN late 17th cent.: from French, from éclater‘burst out.’