élan

[ ey-lahn, ey-lan; French ey-lahn ]

See synonyms for élan on Thesaurus.com

noun

style; flair; dash (especially in manner): to dance with great élan.

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”

Other words for élan

animation, esprit, panache, spirit, verve, zest

See synonyms for élan on Thesaurus.com

Words that may be confused with élan

éclat, élan

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

British Dictionary definitions for élan

élan

/ (eɪˈlɑːn, eɪˈlæn, French elɑ̃) /

noun

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

Origin of 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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