enlèvement

noun

en·​lève·​ment
äⁿlevmäⁿ
plural enlèvements
-mäⁿ(z)
: the lift into the air of a ballerina by her supporting male dancer

Word History

Etymology

French, action of lifting, from Middle French enlevement, from enlever to lift, raise (from Old French, to raise, from en from that place—from Latin inde, akin to Latin is he and to Latin de from—+ lever to raise) + -ment

The Ultimate Dictionary Awaits

Expand your vocabulary and dive deeper into language with Merriam-Webster Unabridged.

  1. Expanded definitions
  2. Detailed etymologies
  3. Advanced search tools
  4. All ad-free

Discover what makes Merriam-Webster Unabridged the essential choice for true word lovers.

Start Your Free Trial Now

Dictionary Entries Near enlèvement

Cite this Entry

“Enlèvement.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/enl%C3%A8vement. Accessed 26 Dec. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!