-elle

1. a noun suffix occurring in loanwords from French, where it originally formed diminutives, now often with a derivative sense in which the diminutive force is lost ( bagatelle; prunelle; rondelle ); also in Anglicized forms of Latin words ending in -ella ( organelle ).

Word History and Origins

Origin of -elle¹

< French < Latin -ella, feminine of -ellus, forming diminutives corresponding to stems ending in -ul- -ule, -r- ( castellum ), -n- ( patella )

Example Sentences

Even Elle Macpherson, a model who would come to be known as “The Body,” faced her share of rejections early in her career: As she recalls in her new memoir, simply titled “Elle,” a prevailing attitude at the time was that “girls with brown eyes don’t get covers” of top magazines.

From Los Angeles Times

“Elle,” which was released in Australia a couple months ago, angered healthcare professionals and cancer survivors for Macpherson’s revelation in the book that she had been diagnosed with breast cancer in 2017 but chose alternative therapies to overcome it in lieu of chemotherapy.

From Los Angeles Times

Elle Macpherson, at 52, has the kind of physique that teen girls covet.

From Los Angeles Times

By Elle Macpherson BenBella Books: 384 pages, $30 If you buy books linked on our site, The Times may earn a commission from Bookshop.org, whose fees support independent bookstores.

From Los Angeles Times

Model Elle Macpherson was diagnosed with breast cancer seven years ago but refused chemotherapy, opting for non-pharmaceutical care and a holistic path.

From Los Angeles Times