The Facts on File Dictionary of Foreign Words and Phrases (Writers Reference) (62 page)

quidnunc (kwidnank) LATIN [from
quid nunc? what now?] noun a busybody, a gossip.

quid pro quo (kwid pro kwo) LATIN
[what for what] noun phrase (plural
quid pro quos, quids pro quos,
or quids pro quo) something for
something, one thing in return for
another, a deal by which something
is given or received in exchange for
something else: "Most companies will
inevitably expect something in return for
relaxing the rules on lunch breaks some
kind of quid pro quo."

quien sabe (k),en sahba) SPANISH [who
knows?] interjection who knows?

quieta non movere (kweea),ta non
movairee) LATIN [not to disturb calm
things] noun phrase let a sleeping dog
lie, leave well enough alone.

quietus (kwieet5s, kw-t3s) LATIN
[from quietus est he is quit] noun
death or a cessation of activity; may
also refer to the final settlement of a
debt or obligation: "The guns fell silent,
and for several hours the whole front line
was in the grip of an uneasy quietus."

quis custodiet ipsos custodes? (kwis
kastodiet ipsos kastodeez) LATIN [who
will guard the guards?, quoted from
the Satires of Juvenal (c. 60-117 A.D.)]
interjection who will guard the guards
themselves? (or, who will check that
the guards themselves observe the
law?).

quisling (kwisling) NORWEGIAN [after
Vidkun Quisling (1887-1945), the
Norwegian prime minister who was
executed for collaborating with the
Nazis during World War II] noun a
collaborator with the enemy, a traitor: "Accused by his workmates of being
a coward and a quisling, the youth ran
from the building and hid in the parking lot."

qui vive (kee veev) FRENCH [long
live who? (used as a challenge by
French sentries)] noun phrase a state
of alertness, awareness, or watchfulness.

quoad (kwoad) LATIN [as far as, as
much as] preposition in regard to,
with respect to.

quod erat demonstrandum (kwod erat
demonstrandum) LATIN [which was
to be proven] noun phrase what had
to be demonstrated, which was to be
proved. abbreviated form Q.E.D.

quod erat faciendum (kwod erat
fasheeendam, kwod erat fakeeendam)
LATIN [which was to be done] noun
phrase what had to be done, which
was to be done. 'abbreviated form Q.E.E

quodlibet (kwodlabet) LATIN [what
pleases, from quod what and libet it
pleases] noun a point or thesis advanced
for discussion; may also refer in music
to any lighthearted, humorous composition or medley.

quod vide (kwod veeday) LATIN [to
see] verb phrase (plural quae vide, kwi
veeday) see this, which see (used in
bibliographical references). -abbreviated form q.v.

quo jute (kwo~oray, jooray)
LATIN [with what right?] adverb
phrase by what right?, by what
authority?

quondam (kwondam, kwondam) LATIN
[at one time, formerly] adjective former, sometime: "The animal itself was

as peaceful and well-behaved as thatfather
of all picture-wolves, Red Riding Hood's
quondam friend, whilst moving her confidence in masquerade" (Brain Stoker,
Dracula, 1897).

quorum (kwor3m) LATIN [of which]
noun a group of people (usually referring to the minimum number of individuals required to attend a meeting
of an organization in order to satisfy
requirements of legal competence):
"The number of members at the meeting was
three people below the quorum, so it had to
be abandoned."

quota (kW6t3) LATIN [what part in
number, from quota pars how great
a part] noun a proportional part or
share; may also refer to a maximum
number, amount, or quantity allowed:
"The government announced measures
to make sure that the quota of immigrants allowed into the country was not
exceeded."

quo vadis (kwo vahdis) LATIN [to
what place are you going? (recalling the words spoken by Christ to
Peter when the latter tried to leave
Rome to escape execution] verb phrase
where are you going?

Quran See KORAN.

q.v. See QUOD VIDE.

r. See RECTO.

rabbi (rabl) HEBREW [my master]
noun the leader of a Jewish congregation; may also refer to a master
or teacher, specifically a scholar who
expounds upon Jewish law: "The rabbi
was waiting for them at the synagogue."

raconteur (rakonter, rakontoor)
FRENCH [from raconter to tell] noun
a teller of anecdotes and stories: "In
manner, something of the grand seigneur
still clung to him, so that he even ripped
you up with an air, and I have been told
that he was a raconteur of repute." (J. M.
Barrie, Peter Pan, 1904). -noun, feminine raconteuse (rakonterz) a female
teller of anecdotes and stories.

radius (raydeeas) LATIN [ray] noun
(plural radiuses or radii, ra)Ldeei)
a straight line running from the
center of a circle or sphere to the
circumference or surface; can also
refer figuratively to any bounded or
circumscribed area: "A simple calculation produced both the radius and the
circumference of the circle."

raffia (rafeea) MALAGASY [after a
palm of the genus Raphia] noun the
soft fiber of palm leaves that is commonly used in basketwork and other
crafts.

raga (rahg3) SANSKRIT [color, tone]
noun a melodic pattern or mode in
traditional Indian music, or an improvisation based upon a traditional raga:
"Like many Western musicians of his generation, he became interested in learning
the techniques of the Indian raga, even
traveling to India itself to hear such music
played in its original context."

ragout (ra tt) FRENCH [from ragodter
to revive the taste] noun (in French
cuisine) a rich, highly seasoned stew
of meat and vegetables; may also refer
more generally to any mixture of miscellaneous items: "Here are also some
dolphins' livers, which you take to be
ragout of pork." (Jules Verne, 20,000
Leagues Under the Sea, 1870).

raison d'etat (rezon(g) da),ta) FRENCH
[reason of state] noun phrase (plural
raisons d'etat) a reason connected with the interests of the state or
national security.

raison d'etre (rezon(g) detra) FRENCH
[reason to be] noun phrase (plural
raisons d'etre) a reason, motivation,
or justification for the existence of a
thing: "She was more than just a lover to
him, she was his raison d'etre."

raisonne (rayzonay) FRENCH [past
participle of raisonner to reason] adjective reasoned out: "It has given us a
catalogue raisonne of the substances found
upon our planet, and shown how everything living and dead is put together from
them" (Oliver Wendell Holmes, Medical Essays, 1883).

raita (rieeta) HINDI [from rayta] noun
(in Indian cuisine) a dish of chopped
vegetables in yogurt or curd.

raj (rahj) HINDI [from Sanskrit rajya]
noun rule, sovereignty (usually referring specifically to British rule in India
in the 19th century the Raj): "Memories of the Raj are still strong in aristocratic
Indian society."

raja (rahja, rahjah, rahzha, rahzhah),
rajah HINDI [from Sanskrit rajan
king, probably ultimately from Latin
rex king] noun an Indian prince or
king; also applied to rulers and other
persons of authority in Malaysian and
Javanese society: "The raja arrived with
all the panoply appropriate to his status."

raid (rahkee) TURKISH [from raqil
noun a strong alcoholic spirit distilled in eastern Europe or the Middle
East, usually from grain and flavored
with aniseed.

raku (rahkoo) JAPANESE [ease, enjoyment] noun a variety of Japanese pottery with a lead glaze.

rallentando (ralantando) ITALIAN
[slowing down, from rallentare to slow
down again, to abate] adverb gradually decreasing in speed. adjective
slowing down.

Ramadan (ramadahn) ARABIC [month
of dryness] noun the sacred ninth
month of the Muslim year, during
which the faithful fast and observe
other restrictions between the hours of
sunrise and sunset.

ramekin (ramkin, ramekin), ramequin FRENCH [from Low German ram
cream] noun an individual portion of
cheese or some other appetizing food
prepared in a small dish, and thus also
the dish itself: "The chef expertly poured
the prepared mixture into exquisite china
ramequins from which the guests ate using
delicate silver spoons."

ranchero (ranchairo) SPANISH [rancher,
from rancho small ranch] noun a
rancher or ranch hand (usually working on a ranch in Mexico): "The saloon
was packed with cowboys and rancheros, their clothes and hair the color of the dust
in which they had ridden all day."

rani (rahnee), ranee HINDI [queen,
from Sanskrit rajni, feminine of rajan
king] noun an Indian queen, or the
wife (or widow) of a rajah.

rapido (rapido, rapeedo) ITALIAN
[rapidly] adverb (in music) rapidly.
-adjective (in music) rapid.

rappel (rapid, ravel) FRENCH [recall,
from rapeler to recall] verb (in mountaineering) to execute a controlled
descent by sliding down a rope, to
abseil. noun a descent down a rope,
an abseil.

rapport (raptr, razor) FRENCH [from
rapporter to bring back] noun a relationship, typically one in which those
concerned are in harmony or agreement or otherwise share the same
outlook or feelings: "The two strangers
quickly fell into conversation and soon
established an easy rapport."

rapporteur (raporter) FRENCH [reporter, from rapporter to bring back]
noun a person who communicates
reports of a meeting or other proceedings. -noun, feminine rapporteuse (raporterz).

rapprochement (raproshmon(g))
FRENCH [from rapprocher to bring
together] noun the establishment, or
reestablishment, of harmonious rela Lions between two parties: "Reports
from the negotiations in Washington suggest that the two sides may finally have
reached a rapprochement."

rata avis (raira 4vas, rahra 4v5s)
LATIN [rare bird] noun phrase (plural
rara avises or rarae ayes, rahri
ahvayz) a rarity, a remarkable person or thing.

ratatouille (ratatooee, ratatwee)
FRENCH [from ratouiller to disturb and
tatouiller to stir] noun (in Provencal
cuisine) a stew made from tomatoes,
eggplant, zucchini, onions, green peppers, herbs, and (sometimes) meat.

rathskeller (ratskelar) GERMAN [from
Ratskellar city-hall basement restaurant]
noun a bar or restaurant housed in a
cellar or basement.

ratio decidendi (raysho desidendce)
LATIN [reason of deciding] noun phrase
(in law) the reason or grounds for a
decision.

rationale (rashanal) LATIN [neuter of
rationalis, from ratio reason] noun a
reasoned statement of principles, or
the basis or underlying reason for
something: "There seemed to be no way
to understand the rationale behind such
actions."

ravioli (raveeolee) ITALIAN [plural of
raviolo little turnip] noun (in Italian
cuisine) a dish of pasta squares stuffed with meat or cheese or other filling,
usually served in sauce.

ravissant (ravison) FRENCH [from
ravir to seize, to enchant] adjective ravishing, delightful, enchanting.

re (ree, ray) LATIN [ablative of res
thing] preposition with regard to,
regarding, concerning, in the case of.
See also IN RE.

realpolitik (rayalpoliteek), Realpolitik GERMAN [from real real and Politik politics] noun practical politics,
political realism (as opposed to theoretical or ideological politics): "Such
humanistic considerations have little impact
in the world of modern realpolitik."

rebus (reebas) LATIN [by things] noun
(plural rebuses) a representation of
a word, syllable, or phrase by pictures
or other symbols.

rechauff6 (rayshofay) FRENCH [warmedover, reheated] noun a rehash, or a dish
of reheated food. adjective rehashed,
reheated.

recherche (rashairsh, rashairshay)
FRENCH [select, past participle of
rechercher to seek out] adjective choice,
rare, exotic, or, more negatively,
obscure, affected, pretentious: "'Twixt
the original and Oriental decorations, the
strange and delicious food, and the personalities both of the distinguished guests, the
charming hostess and the noted host, never

has Zenith seen a more recherche affair
than the Ceylon dinner-dance given last
evening by Mr. and Mrs. Charles McKelvey
to Sir Gerald Doak." (Sinclair Lewis,
Babbitt, 1922).

recitativo (resatateevo) ITALIAN [from
recitare to recite] noun (plural recitativos or recitativi, resatateevee) (in
music) recitative.

reelame (rayklahm) FRENCH [advertising, from reclamer to appeal, to ask
for] noun showmanship, publicity,
or public acclaim.

reconnaissance (rekonhsons) FRENCH
[recognition] noun a preliminary
scouting or examination of a position,
area, or situation for military or other
purposes: "Two aircraft were dispatched
to carry out a reconnaissance of the front
line."

recto (rekto) LATIN [ablative of rectus
right] noun a right-hand page in a
book or other document. -abbreviated
form r. See also vERSO.

rector (rektar) LATIN [leader, director,
from regere to direct] noun a Protestant clergyman or a Roman Catholic
priest in charge of a church or congregation; can also refer to the head
of certain educational establishments:
"The rector of the university dismissed the
allegations in a statement released to the
press later that day."