French

¹

[ french ]

adjective

1. of, relating to, or characteristic of France or its inhabitants, language, or culture:

   French cooking.

noun

1. (used with a plural verb) the people of France collectively:

   Philosophies advanced by the French during the Age of Reason profoundly influenced the American Founding Fathers.

2. a Romance language spoken in France, parts of Belgium and Switzerland, and in areas colonized after 1500 by France. : F, Fr.

verb (used with object)

1. (often lowercase) to prepare (food) according to a French method.
2. (often lowercase) to cut (snap beans) into slivers or thin strips before cooking.
3. (often lowercase) to trim the meat from the end of (a rib chop or chicken breast with attached wing):

   For this recipe, the chops on the rack of lamb are Frenched about an inch. To french a chicken breast, scrape down the meat on the wing to expose the bone.

4. (often lowercase) to prepare (meat) for cooking by slicing it into strips and pounding.
5. Slang. to short-sheet (a bed).
6. (often lowercase) Slang. to give (someone) a French kiss:

   Her parents found her frenching her boyfriend on the porch swing after curfew.

7. (often lowercase) Slang: Vulgar. to perform fellatio or cunnilingus on.

French

²

[ french ]

noun

1. Alice Octave Thanet, 1850–1934, U.S. novelist and short-story writer.
2. Daniel Chester, 1850–1931, U.S. sculptor.
3. Sir John Den·ton Pink·stone [den, -tn-, pingk, -stohn, -st, uh, n], 1st Earl of Ypres, 1852–1925, English field marshal in World War I.
4. Marilyn, 1929–2009, U.S. novelist and nonfiction writer.

French

¹

/ frɛntʃ /

noun

1. FrenchSir John Denton Pinkstone, 1st Earl of Ypres18521925MBritishMILITARY: generalPOLITICS: administrator Sir John Denton Pinkstone , 1st Earl of Ypres. 1852–1925, British field marshal in World War I: commanded the British Expeditionary Force in France and Belgium (1914–15); Lord Lieutenant of Ireland (1918–21)

French

²

/ frɛntʃ /

noun

1. the official language of France: also an official language of Switzerland, Belgium, Canada, and certain other countries. It is the native language of approximately 70 million people; also used for diplomacy. Historically, French is an Indo-European language belonging to the Romance group See also Old French Anglo-French
2. the French
   functioning as plural the natives, citizens, or inhabitants of France collectively
3. See French vermouth

adjective

1. relating to, denoting, or characteristic of France, the French, or their language Franco-Gallo-
2. (in Canada) of or relating to French Canadians

Derived Forms

• ˈFrenchness, noun

Other Words From

• Frenchness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of French¹

First recorded before 1150; Middle English Frennsce, Frensh, French, from Old English Frencisc; Frank, -ish ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of French¹

Old English Frencisc French, Frankish; see Frank

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. excuse / pardon one's French, (used to excuse or apologize for the use of vulgarity):

   Pardon my French—I didn’t realize there were ladies present.

Example Sentences

As far as I can tell, this magazine spent as much time making fun of French politicians as it did of Muslims or Islam.

From The Daily Beast

The comedian responded to the deadly attack on a French satirical magazine by renewing his recent criticisms of the Islamic faith.

From The Daily Beast

The FBI has also been searching its records for any information that could assist the French investigation, a spokesperson added.

From The Daily Beast

Gunshots rang out in Paris this morning on a second day of deadly violence that has stunned the French capital.

From The Daily Beast

I think the response of the French government so far has been pretty appropriate in that regard.

From The Daily Beast

However, on reaching Spain, the magic of the Emperor's personality soon restored the vigour and prestige of the French arms.

From Project Gutenberg

He gives a list of the sponsors of the baptized Indians, who included many of the French nobility and clergy.

From Project Gutenberg

It being offensive to the French, they took none of it with them on their return.

From Project Gutenberg

Eustache le Sueur died; one of the best French historical painters of his time.

From Project Gutenberg

Sanson's Atlas: a very large atlas by a French geographer in use in Swift's time.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• brush
• glance
• graze
• greet
• salute