revanche

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for February 27, 2009 is: revanche • \ruh-VAHNSH (the N is not pronounced, but the vowel is nasalized)\ • noun : revenge; especially : a usually political policy designed to recover lost territory or status Examples: 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. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.