naissance

American  

[ney-suhns] / ˈneɪ səns /

noun

1. a birth, an origination, or a growth, as that of a person, an organization, an idea, or a movement.

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Usage

What is naissance? A naissance is the beginning or birth of a person or idea, as in The naissance of our company came from the founder’s desire to work from home. Naissance is usually used to describe the beginning of something that is or is expected to be very important, large, or impressive. Naissance is also sometimes used to describe the birth of a person, because naissance is also the French term for birth. Example: We are in the naissance of online trading right now, but one day it will be huge.

Etymology

Origin of naissance

1480–90; < French, Middle French, equivalent to nais- (stem of naître to be born < Vulgar Latin *nāscere, for Latin nāscī ) + -ance -ance

Example Sentences

Britain's most aggressive movie producer was last week conducting a recon naissance of the North American continent.

From Time Magazine Archive

The "of sorts" refers to the fact that we don't really have anything to bring back, or, in the Latin, "naissance."

From Time Magazine Archive

He had also seen Mirabeau, who, according to his account, wore very large buttons—exagéré en tout, and was altogether a man of mauvais ton, en dépit de sa naissance!

From The Jew and Other Stories by Garnett, Constance

D’ailleurs, ajouta-t-il, cette dignité n’est point au-dessus de votre naissance, et la noblesse Aragonoise ne sauroit murmurer contre le choix de la cour.”

From Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine - Volume 55, No. 344, June, 1844 by Various

Au lieu de la naissance de sainte Jean Baptiste, on montre une roche qui, pendant qu'Hérode persécutoit les innocens, s'ouvrît miraculeusement en deux.

From The Principal Navigations, Voyages, Traffiques and Discoveries of the English Nation — Volume 10 Asia, Part III by Hakluyt, Richard