élan

[ ey-lahn, ey-lan; French ey-lahn ]
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noun
  1. style; flair; dash (especially in manner): to dance with great élan.

Origin of élan

1
First recorded in 1875–80; French, Middle French eslan “a dash, rush,” noun derivative of eslancer “to dart,” equivalent to es- ex-1 + lancer “to lance1

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British Dictionary definitions for élan

élan

/ (eɪˈlɑːn, eɪˈlæn, French elɑ̃) /


noun
  1. a combination of style and vigour: he performed the concerto with élan

Origin of élan

1
C19: from French, from élancer to throw forth, ultimately from Latin lancea lance

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