This week's theme: terms from French.
qui vive (kee VEEV) noun
Alert, lookout. (Used in the phrase "on the qui vive").
[From French qui vive, literally, "Who lives?" implying "Long lives who?"
or "Whose side are you on?" It was used by a sentry to challenge someone
approaching the gate. A proper response might be "Vive le roi!" ("Long
live the King!") or "La France!"]
Today's word in Visual Thesaurus: http://visualthesaurus.com/?w1=qui+vive
-Anu Garg (gargATwordsmith.org)
"Are there some more subtle signals a man ought to be on the qui vive
for?"
James Ahearn; Ask Mr. Manners; The Record (Bergen County, New Jersey);
Oct 23, 1991.
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............................................................................
Intolerance of ambiguity is the mark of an authoritarian personality.
-Theodor Adorno, philosopher and composer (1903-1969)
Looking for a word/quotation previously featured in AWAD? Archives are at
http://wordsmith.org/awad/archives.html
Pronunciation:
http://wordsmith.org/words/qui_vive.wav
http://wordsmith.org/words/qui_vive.ram
Permalink: http://wordsmith.org/words/qui_vive.html
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