Snob Words: Making Sense of Words You Wish You Knew, But Don't



Snob words are lexical aristocrats, highfalutin' words and phrases--often derived from foreign languages--that never appear on sixth-grade spelling tests. They're words you don't know, but feel you should know.

And because you don't know them, you often feel excluded.

For example, when Architectural Digest reveals that the actress of the moment has just installed an étagère in her pied-á-terre--and you're left racing to find a French dictionary app--you're a victim of snob words. Those fortunate enough to know the terms are in on the secret, while you're left standing behind the red velvet rope.

This blog is an attempt to demystify snob words, which show up frequently in publications that cater to well educated, upscale readers.

Sunday, June 17, 2012

fauteuil (foh-TAY΄-yuh)

     The term fauteuil, French for ‘armchair,’ describes a chair with a primarily exposed wooden frame; in other words, there are open spaces between its arms and its seat.
     The seats of fauteuils are generally upholstered, while their backs may or may not be covered with fabric.  The word fauteuil came into French from an Old German word for ‘folding chair’—faltistuol.
     While fauteuils are not foldable, they are light enough to pull up to the fire or to move across the room to join a conversation.
     Architectural Digest used the term in 2012 to describe the work of designer Penny Drue Baird (2012 AD 100: Penny Drue Baird).

     Architectural Digest used the term in 2012 to describe the work of designer Penny Drue Baird (2012 AD 100: Penny Drue Baird). 

     “Classic French decor is integral to Penny Drue Baird’s design philosophy, even when her interiors don’t feature a single bergère or fauteuil: Baird’s Manhattan firm, Dessins (which also has a Paris outpost), employs the logic, proportion, and panache associated with French masters of days gone by.”  (Architectural Digest, January 2012)
Louis IV fauteuil.

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2 comments:

  1. DebbieJune 20, 2012 at 1:14 PM

    Very good work Todd!

    ReplyDelete
  2. seo masterJanuary 25, 2020 at 3:25 AM

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    ReplyDelete

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