douceur

American  

[doo-sur, doo-sœr] / duˈsɜr, duˈsœr /

noun

plural

douceurs

1. a gratuity; tip.

2. a conciliatory gift or bribe.

3. Archaic. sweetness or agreeableness.

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douceur British  

/ duːˈsɜː, dusœr /

noun

1. a gratuity, tip, or bribe

2. sweetness

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Etymology

Origin of douceur

1350–1400; Middle English < Middle French: sweetness < Late Latin dulcor, with initial syllable reshaped under influence of French doux, douce; douce, -eur

Example Sentences

Nonetheless, an otherwise rollicking chapter on the Frankfurt Book Fair gradually saddens into an elegy for the douceur de vivre before the Revolution.

From Washington Post

But if the douceur of sports can channel aggressive passions into benign – if trivial – pursuits, why should we deny our star performers their heroic stature?

From The Guardian

Irritable as he was, he used to call the people cheats, an appellation which had often to be atoned for by a douceur to the waiters.

From Project Gutenberg

I returned, armed with sundry five-franc pieces and napoleons; but it was not until the fourth day, when I gave an extra douceur, that I could approach him at all.

From Project Gutenberg

The expenses of The Lantern—including a generous douceur to myself—were all defrayed by the Empress.

From Project Gutenberg