Cassell's Dictionary of Foreign Words and Phrases (Paperback)

Are you a "bon vivant"? Do you know whether that painting uses "chiaroscuro"? From "appellation contrô lé e" to "zeitgeist," these 5000 foreign words and phrases will put the world's terminology at your fingertips. It covers everyday expressions ("pro forma"); specialist vocabulary ("barre," the wall-mounted rail used for ballet exercises); and tag lines ("sic transit gloria mundi")-and includes a pronunciation guide, the date when the expression first appeared in written English, detailed word histories, and highlighted points of additional interest.