elan [eɪˈlɑːn] n.
1.) An impetuous rush (e.g. of troops).
2.) In English use chiefly abstract: Ardour, impetuousness, vivacity (O.E.D. 2nd Ed.).
Etymology: French; believed to be from élancer, from Latin ex, out + late Latin lanceāre, from lancea, lance.
"But Blondel contests the very idea of a natural happiness for man, just as he contests the idea of a natural religion, based on no more than human musings about the divine, without some revelation from God in his transcendence, that is, for a nature whose very elan is a quest for the infinite, an aspiration at once congenital and inefficacious by itself, for a knowledge that saturates and a fruition that leaves nothing to be desired" (Maurice Blondel: A Philosophical Life, Oliva Blanchette, 2010).
9 comments:
I'll be damned, i thought you had gone died on us
Fun word, let's try and put it to use.
You back yet, -E-? >.>
And the sound thingy isn't working for me, but I think I got it anyway
Yay, you're back! And I know this word! A good way to start the new year ^^
I've always used it as a synonym for "flair." Wasn't aware of its connection to impetuousness. Hmmm. Food for thought.
Huh. That's a little different from the way I normally use it.
Even with this info it's gonna be hard to use this in every day life
Good to have you back!
Cool word I thought it was just a river....or car
Great word.
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