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 manqué²

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 • Sep. 29, 2022

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

From New York Times • Sep. 11, 2022

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

From The Guardian • Jun. 4, 2015

The Robertses' bid not only reaffirmed Diller's status as a mogul manque, but it left CBS on the block for a takeover attempt by anyone from the Walt Disney Co. to cable-TV magnate Ted Turner.

From Time Magazine Archive

Aussi peuvent-elles devenir très dangereuses et même fatales, si l'on manque de s'en occuper dès l'apparence des premiers symptômes.

From Treatise on the Diseases of Women by Pinkham, Lydia Estes