douceur

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Nevertheless, the efforts of X and Y to secure the douceur were not relaxed.

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Definitions (5)

Toggle American Heritage definitions American Heritage Dictionary (1)

  1. noun Money given as a tip, gratuity, or bribe.

Toggle Century definitions Century Dictionary (3)

Toggle GNU Webster definitions GNU Webster's 1913 (1)

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Examples (50)

  • Then began a series of visits from three secret agents representing Talleyrand—Jean Conrad Hottinguer, Pierre Bellamy, and Lucien Hauteval—who were referred to by the Americans in their dispatches as X, Y, and Z. The Foreign Minister was favorably disposed toward the United States, the American envoys were informed, but in order for negotiations to proceed, a douceur (a sweetener) would be necessary, a bribe of some $250,000 for Talleyrand personally. —  John Adams by David McCullough
  • As for the douceur de la vie, well, I have it in spades, natch. —  The Guardian World News
  • Qu'on goûte de douceur, Quand l'amour prend soin d'un cœur! —  Recently Uploaded Slideshows
  • Nevertheless, the efforts of X and Y to secure the douceur were not relaxed. —  Union and Democracy
  • Bonnivard engagea le Conseil à accorder [aux ecclésiastiques et aux paysans] un tems suffisant pour examiner les propositions qu'on leur faisait; il réussit par sa douceur: on prêche toujours le Christianisme avec succès quand on le prêche avec charit Bonnivard fut savant: ses manuscrits, qui sont dans la bibliothèque publique, prouvent qu'il avait bien lu les auteurs classiques Latins, et qu'il avait approfondi la théologie et l'histoire. —  The Works of Lord Byron. Vol. 4
 

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Etymologies (2)

Toggle American Heritage etymologies American Heritage Dictionary (1)

  1. French, from Late Latin dulcor, sweetness, from Latin dulcis, sweet.

Toggle Century etymologies Century Dictionary (1)

  1. = Dutch douceur = Danish douceur, dusör = Swedish dusör, reward, from F. douceur, sweetness, a present, from Old French douçor, dolçor, dulçor (from Middle English dousour) = Provencal dolzor = Spanish dulzor = Portuguese dulçor, from Late Latin dulcor, sweetness, from Latin dulcis, sweet: see dulcet.
 

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/duˈsər/
by American Heritage

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