Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun A proposition; statement.

Etymologies

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Examples

  • Flora on one occasion had been reduced to rage and despair, had her most secret feelings lacerated, had obtained a view of the utmost baseness to which common human nature can descend -- I won't say _a propos de bottes_ as the French would excellently put it, but literally _a propos_ of some mislaid cheap lace trimmings for a nightgown the romping one was making for herself.

    Chance Joseph Conrad 1890

  • Thus Flora on one occasion had been reduced to rage and despair, had her most secret feelings lacerated, had obtained a view of the utmost baseness to which common human nature can descend -- I won't say _a propos de bottes_ as the French would excellently put it but literally _a propos_ of some mislaid cheap lace trimmings for a nightgown the romping one was making for herself.

    Chance A Tale in Two Parts Joseph Conrad 1890

  • There are numerous pun formats including knock-knock jokes and the beloved malapropisms, the latter immortalized in the character of Mrs. Malaprop (from the French mal à propos, meaning inappropriate) in Richard Sheridan's 1755 comedy The Rivals.

    Grande Prairie Daily Herald Tribune 2009

  • Aujourd'hui, lisez un avant-propos de cette gazette.

    French Word-A-Day: 2010

  • Voilà for an avant-propos for Anne, who had actually asked for anintroduction ... a word that I have just checked in my dictionary: introduction: the act of beginning something new

    avant-propos - French Word-A-Day 2010

  • I'd been ranting on that subject for some time a propos of certain tv shows (Sex and the City, Will and Grace ...)

    romantic comedy, and the year of opinions about rubbish films kateelliott 2009

  • Aujourd'hui, lisez un avant-propos de cette gazette.

    avant-propos - French Word-A-Day 2010

  • Pull up a chaise and let me tell you a little about this newsletter's beginnings ... (photo taken in Nyons.) avant-propos (ahvahn pro poh) noun, masculine

    French Word-A-Day: 2010

  • Voilà for an avant-propos for Anne, who had actually asked for anintroduction ... a word that I have just checked in my dictionary: introduction: the act of beginning something new

    French Word-A-Day: 2010

  • Pull up a chaise and let me tell you a little about this newsletter's beginnings ... (photo taken in Nyons.) avant-propos (ahvahn pro poh) noun, masculine

    avant-propos - French Word-A-Day 2010

Comments

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  • A point of consideration.

    May 30, 2008