manque

¹ American  

[mahnk] / mɑ̃k /

noun

French.

1. the numbers 1 to 18 in roulette.

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manqué ² American  

[mahng-key, mahn-key] / mɑŋˈkeɪ, mɑ̃ˈkeɪ /

adjective

1. having failed, missed, or fallen short, especially because of circumstances or a defect of character; unsuccessful; unfulfilled or frustrated (usually used postpositively).

   a poet manqué who never produced a single book of verse.

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manqué British  

/ ˈmɒŋkeɪ, mɑ̃ke /

adjective

1. (postpositive) unfulfilled; potential; would-be

   the manager is an actor manqué

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Etymology

Origin of manque¹

Literally, “lack”

Origin of manqué¹

1770–80; < French, past participle of manquer to lack, be short of < Italian mancare, derivative of manco lacking, defective < Medieval Latin, Late Latin mancus ( Latin: feeble, literally, maimed, having a useless hand, probably derivative of manus hand)

Example Sentences

An artist manque, she maintains that her particular skill is to recognize and nurture talent.

From New York Times

It was a manque version of the hypertheatricality that elevated the band out of scene notoriety to pop ubiquity.

From New York Times

She lacks her husband’s talent for, well, political dexterity, and after so many years at the table of Washington and Wall Street elites she’s hardly persuasive running as Elizabeth Warren manque.

From The Wall Street Journal

Philip – a Roth manque – is waiting for the release of his second novel, which is bound to be well received.

From The Guardian

Every fashion designer, they say, is an architect manque, intent on imposing a structure on the wayward human form.

From New York Times