If you don't know the meaning of "‡ la carte," "amuse-bouche," or soup "du jour," you might be missing out on a great meal--or risk committing a major "faux pas." Organized alphabetically for easy reference, A Certain "Je Ne Sais Quoi" is an accessible lexicon of foreign words and phrases used in English, containing everything from aficionado (Spanish) to zeitgeist (German). Inside you'll find translations, definitions, origins, and a descriptive timeline of each item's evolution.  

Entries include:

• ¿ la carte: from the card or of the menu (French)

• Fiasco: complete failure (Italian)

• Dungarees: thick cotton cloth/overalls (Hindi)

• Diaspora: dispersion (Greek)

• Smorgasbord: bread and butter (Swedish)

• Cognoscenti: those who know (Italian)

• Compos mentis: having mastery of one's mind; with it (Latin)

Attractively packaged with black and white illustrations, this whimsical yet authoritative book is a great gift for any etymologically fascinated individual. Use this book to reacquaint yourself with the English language, and you'll be "compos mentis" in no time.  

Make this and all of the Blackboard Booksô a permanent fixture on your eReader, and you'll have instant access to searchable knowledge. Whether you need homework help or want to win that trivia game, this series is the trusted source for fun facts.

"I love LOVE books like this. This is actually one that I want to keep handy so when I start my English classes I will have something to use. It would make a great handy book also if you are a writer and are constantly looking up synonyms! So if you know a writer or a teacher, this would be perfect!" -G