Make Your Point > Archived Issues > DÉCLASSÉ
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Let's add the word déclassé to our collection of spicy little French terms, which also includes:
We borrowed this word from French, around the year 1921. It literally means "having lost one's class."
Part of speech:
This term is rare and snobby-sounding. The meaning is judgmental; it's very French; it's got those little marks over the vowels that make people nervous. So if you use it, use it with care.
"In 1851, New York society was the exclusive domain of the Knickerbocker elite, the descendants of the Dutch and English merchants who had arrived in New Netherland in the 17th century. For this old-money set, marriage announcements were déclassé. Those who needed to know already did, and weddings had yet to become public social events."
Explain the meaning of "déclassé" without saying "passé" or "lower-class."
Fill in the blanks: "(Something) is déclassé now, but it used to be (cool for some reason)."
Try to spend 20 seconds or more on the game below. Don’t skip straight to the review—first, let your working memory empty out.
1.
The opposite of DÉCLASSÉ is
I hope you're enjoying Make Your Point. It's made with love. I'm Liesl Johnson, a reading and writing tutor on a mission to explore, illuminate, and celebrate words. |