je ne sais quoi
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je ne sais quoi
(zhə′ nə sā kwä′, sĕ)n.
A quality or attribute that is difficult to describe or express.
[French : je, I + ne, not + sais : first person present indicative of savoir, to know + quoi, what.]
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
je ne sais quoi
(ʒənsekwa)n
an indefinable quality, esp of personality
[literally: I don't know what]
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
je ne sais quoi
(ʒənə sɛ ˈkwa)n.
French.
an indefinable, elusive quality, esp. a pleasing one.
[literally, I don't know what]
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
je ne sais quoi
A French phrase meaning I don’t know what, used to mean something that you find hard to define or specify.
Dictionary of Unfamiliar Words by Diagram Group Copyright © 2008 by Diagram Visual Information Limited
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Noun | 1. | je ne sais quoi - something indescribable object, physical object - a tangible and visible entity; an entity that can cast a shadow; "it was full of rackets, balls and other objects" |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
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je ne sais quoi