madeleine
noun
ˌma-də-ˈlān
Did you know?
The Madeleine Goes Back to France
The madeleine is said to have been named after a 19th-century French cook named Madeleine Paumier, but it was the French author Marcel Proust who immortalized the pastry in his 1913 book Swann's Way, the first volume of his seven-part novel Remembrance of Things Past. In that work, a taste of tea-soaked cake evokes a surge of memory and nostalgia. As more and more readers chewed on the profound mnemonic power attributed to a mere morsel of cake, the word madeleine itself became a designation for anything that evokes a memory.
Examples of madeleine in a Sentence
Agnish Ray, Travel + Leisure, 15 Mar. 2025
Menu offerings are equally enticing, choose from an assortment of Bellocq teas to enjoy with your sandwiches (quail egg toast and lobster roll are highlights) plus traditional scones, pastries, and cookies including madeleines and canelés.
—Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 9 Feb. 2025
The furniture is a mix of vintage and handcrafted, and the welcoming touches range from fluffy bathrobes to madeleines and whiskey waiting in your room.
—John Metcalfe, The Mercury News, 3 Feb. 2025
The menu also reflects the notes and flavors of Creed’s most celebrated fragrances, like the snapdragon apple madeleines (inspired by Aventus For Her) and hazelnut tonka cream puff (inspired by Sublime Vanille).
—Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 9 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for madeleine
Cite this Entry
“Madeleine.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/madeleine. Accessed 2 Apr. 2025.
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