| 释义 |
‖ je ne sais quoi|ʒənsɛkwa|
[Fr., = I know not what.]
An indescribable or inexpressible something. Also attrib.
1656Blount Glossogr., Je-ne-scay-quoi, four French words, contracted as it were into one, and signifies I know not what, we use to say they are troubled with the Je-ne-scay-quoy, that faign themselves sick out of niceness but know not where their own grief lies, or what ayls them. 1671Aubrey Countrey Revell ii. iii, Seemed to give a mournefull je n'scay quoy. 1696D'Urfey Don Quix. iii. iv. 38 Some sweet alluring Jen Scay Quoy, Some pleasing pretty tickling Toy. a1734North Exam. iii. viii. §14 (1740) 592 Now this Word Post has a je ne sçai quoi Sound of a deep Design. 1745Gentl. Mag. 324 So refined a Je-ne-scay-quoy was about 'em, For goddesses there was no reason to doubt 'em. 1774Foote Cozeners iii. Wks. 1799 II. 185 There is, besides, an elegance, a je ne scai quoi, in your son's air. 1881W. S. Gilbert Patience ii, A..Je-ne-sais-quoi young man. 1894Sir E. Sullivan Woman 71 Her famous nepenthe was simply the irresistible fascination of her ‘Je ne sais quoi’. |