† aligreekn.

Etymology: Either < French à la Grecque in a Greek style (17th cent. or earlier in general senses, mid 18th cent. or earlier with reference to key-pattern ornaments; < à la à la prep. + Grecque , feminine corresponding to Grec Greek n.) or < the similarly-formed Italian phrase alla Greca (15th cent. in general senses; late 18th cent. or earlier in meandro alla Greca ); in either case with remodelling of the final syllable after Greek n. Compare French Grecque key pattern ornament, meander (1834 or earlier in architecture; also1828 or earlier with reference to ornamentation on clothing), and also Italian greca key-pattern ornament, meander (1869). Compare also Greek fret n. and Greek key n. at Greek adj. Compounds.