élan

== English == === Alternative forms === elan === Etymology === Borrowed from French élan. === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /eɪˈlɑːn/, /eɪˈlæn/ Rhymes: -ɑːn, -æn === Noun === élan (countable and uncountable, plural élans) Spirit; zeal; ardor. Grace; style (especially apparently effortless). ==== Usage notes ==== Not to be confused with eland, the name of two African antelopes. ==== Related terms ==== élan vital lance, lancet ==== Translations ==== === Anagrams === lane, Lena, enal, lean, Lean, Nale, Neal, Lane, Alne, nale, Alen, neal == French == === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /e.lɑ̃/ Homophone: élans === Etymology 1 === Deverbal from élancer. ==== Noun ==== élan m (plural élans) spirit momentum Il prend son élan. ― He is gaining momentum. (sports) run up ===== Derived terms ===== ===== Descendants ===== → Czech: elán → English: élan → German: Elan → Portuguese: elã, élan → Romanian: elan === Etymology 2 === Borrowed from German Elen, Elend, from Middle High German eln, elent, of uncertain origin. Possibly from a Baltic language (compare Lithuanian élnias and Latvian alnis), from Proto-Balto-Slavic *elenias, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h₁el-h₁en (“red deer, elk”). Compare also Armenian եղնիկ (eġnik) and Proto-Slavic *elỳ (“deer”) whence also Bulgarian еле́н (elén), Polish jeleń and Ukrainian о́лень (ólenʹ). Alternatively, Middle High German eln, elent, may derive from Old High German elho, elaho, a weak stem form of Proto-Germanic *elhaz (“elk”). More at English elk. ==== Noun ==== élan m (plural élans) moose, elk === Further reading === “élan”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012 == Portuguese == === Etymology === Unadapted borrowing from French élan. === Pronunciation === Hyphenation: é‧lan === Noun === élan m (plural élans) alternative form of elã === References === === Further reading === “élan”, in Dicionário Aulete Digital (in Portuguese), Rio de Janeiro: Lexikon Editora Digital, 2008–2026