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élan

[ ey-lahn, ey-lan; French ey-lahn ]
/ eɪˈlɑn, eɪˈlæn; French eɪˈlɑ̃ /
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noun
style; flair; dash (especially in manner): to dance with great élan.
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Origin of élan

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

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH élan

éclat, élan
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use élan in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for élan

élan
/ (eɪˈlɑːn, eɪˈlæn, French elɑ̃) /

noun
a combination of style and vigourhe performed the concerto with élan

Word Origin for élan

C19: from French, from élancer to throw forth, ultimately from Latin lancea lance
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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