éclat

[ ey-klah; French ey-kla ]

noun

1. brilliance of success, reputation, etc.:

   the éclat of a great achievement.

2. showy or elaborate display:

   a performance of great éclat.

3. acclamation; acclaim.

éclat

/ eɪˈklɑː; ekla /

noun

1. brilliant or conspicuous success, effect, etc
2. showy display; ostentation
3. social distinction
4. approval; acclaim; applause

Word History and Origins

Origin of éclat¹

1665–75; < French: splinter, fragment, burst, flash, brilliance, Old French esclat, noun derivative of esclater to burst, break violently, probably < Old Low Franconian *slaitan to split, break (compare Old High German sleizan to tear), a causative of Germanic *slitan; slit

Word History and Origins

Origin of éclat¹

C17: from French, from éclater to burst; related to Old French esclater to splinter, perhaps of Germanic origin; compare slit

Example Sentences

Few American artists of the 20th century arrived with quite his éclat.

From New York Times

A concurrent selling exhibition at Sotheby’s, “The World of Tamara: A Celebration of Lempicka and Art Deco,” features several of Lempicka’s paintings, including “L’Éclat,” a portrait of a woman, her hair coiled like strips of film, and “Nu aux Buildings,” a sensuous nude backed by skyscrapers.

From New York Times

He was soigné, to use one of his favorite words, and he had éclat, to use another.

From New York Times

The distressing explanation she had to make to Harriet, and all that poor Harriet would be suffering, with the awkwardness of future meetings, the difficulties of continuing or discontinuing the acquaintance, of subduing feelings, concealing resentment, and avoiding eclat, were enough to occupy her in most unmirthful reflections some time longer, and she went to bed at last with nothing settled but the conviction of her having blundered most dreadfully.

From Literature

“Both,” replied Elizabeth archly; “for I have always seen a great similarity in the turn of our minds. We are each of an unsocial, taciturn disposition, unwilling to speak, unless we expect to say something that will amaze the whole room, and be handed down to posterity with all the éclat of a proverb.”

From Literature