Word of the Day

: February 27, 2009

revanche

noun ruh-VAHNSH (the N is not pronounced, but the vowel is nasalized)

What It Means

: revenge; especially : a usually political policy designed to recover lost territory or status

revanche in Context

Soon after losing the northern territory to the invading army, the king began drafting a plan of revanche to get it back.

Did You Know?

"Revanche" first appeared in English in the mid-19th century, deriving, along with our noun "revenge," from the Middle French verb "revenchier" ("to revenge"). The word developed its specific political application in the years following the Franco-German War (1870-71), which resulted in France losing the territory known as Alsace-Lorraine to Germany. (The territory was returned to France following World War I and then twice switched hands again during World War II.) Although "revanche" appears occasionally in English today, you are more likely to encounter its relatives "revanchism," which refers to a government's policy of revanche, and "revanchist," referring to a follower of such a policy. These words did not appear in English until the 20th century.