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111 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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a priori
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based on theory rather than observation LATIN
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ad hoc
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"to this" for a specific purpose
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ad infinitum
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to infinity - for a long time
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ad nauseum
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to the point of nausea
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addenda
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a list of additions LATIN
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afficionado
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an ardent devotee
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agent provocatuer
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one who incites another person or organization FRENCH
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alfresco
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outdoors ITALIAN
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alma mater
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fostering mother - school one attended
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alter ego
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second self; trusted friend LATIN
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amour propre
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self esteem
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angst
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dread, anxiety GERMAN
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ars gratia artis
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art for art's sake
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au courant
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informed of the latest FRENCH
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au naturel
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naked
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avant-garde
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on the cutting edge
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baksheesh
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tip, gratuitiy PERSIAN
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bete noire
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black beast -
major/minor personal annoyance |
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bildungsroman
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personal development novel GERMAN
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bon vivant
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an epicure; lover of good living FRENCH
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bona fide
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in good faith LATIN
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bravoura
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a display of spirit and dash ITALIAN
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carpe diem
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sieze the day
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carte blanche
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white card - complete freedom
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casus belli
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a pretext or reason that justifies or allegedly justifies an attack of war LATIN
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cause celebre
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an infamous event/scandal
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caveat emptor
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let the buyer beware
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chef d'oeuvre
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chief work; masterpiece FRENCH
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chutzpah
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gall, arrogance, audacity YIDDISH
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comme il faut
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appropriate; as it out to be
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contretemps
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an ill opportune or embarassing situation FRENCH
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corpus delecti
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body of crime - evidence
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coup de grace
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the death blow
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de facto
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in fact
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de jure
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technically LATIN
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de rigueur
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necessary, obligatory FRENCH
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dernier cri
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the last word; newest fashion FRENCH
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déshabillé
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undressed or partially undressed FRENCH
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deus ex machine
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god of the machine -
solution created out of desperation because no plausible one exists |
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doppelganger
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counterpart of a living person GERMAN
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enfant terrible
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unmanageable child
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errata
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list of errors LATIN
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ex cathedra
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from the chair with unquestionable authority
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fait accompli
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accomplished fact
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faux pas
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false step - breach etiquette
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fiasco
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disaster ITALIAN
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flagrante delicto
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with crime blazing - caught red handed LATIN
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idée fixe
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an idea that dominates one's mind, esp for a long time FRENCH
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in extenso
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at full length LATIN
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in extremis
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near death LATIN
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in loco parentis
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in place of a parent; acting a guardian
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in medias res
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in the middle of things LATIN
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in re
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in reference to
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in vacou
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in a vaccuum LATIN
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in vino veritas
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in wine truth
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ingenue
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the stage role of an ingenious girl; a naïve girl FRENCH
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insouciance
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indifference; lack of concern FRENCH
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ipso facto
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by the fact itself
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joie de vivre
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joy of living - high spirits
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junta
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group (usually military) that assumes leadership after a coup ofr overthrow of a government SPANISH
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laissez faire
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policy of free trade/non interference FRENCH
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leitmotif
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recurring theme GERMAN
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lingua franca
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Frankish tongue - common language between two people who do not speak each other's native tongue
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mea culpa
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my fault LATIN
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mélange
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mixture or medley often of incongrous elements FRENCH
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ménage
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household FRENCH
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mirabilis dictu
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wonderful to relate
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modus operandi
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method of procedure
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ne plus ultra
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highest point that can be obtained
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noblesse oblige
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nobility obligates; the behavior and graciousness of the nobility
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nolo contendere
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no contest; legally, not contesting a charge against one, but not pleading guilty
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non de plume
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pen name
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non sequitur
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something that does not logically follow
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nuance
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a subtle distinction
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par vobiscum
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peace be with you; peace
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persona non grata
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unacceptable or unwelcome person
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pièce de resistance
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main course or dish; most valuable object
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presto
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rapily, quickly ITALIAN
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prima facie
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on the face of it - first glance LATIN
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pro bono publico
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for the public good
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pro forma
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done as a matter of form
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pro rata
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in proportion
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pro tempore (pro tem)
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for the time being; temporarily
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punctilio
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a fine point; minute detail of conduct
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quid pro quo
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something given or received for something else; substitute
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quod erat demonstratum
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as has been demostrated - LATIN QED
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raison d'être
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reason for being FRENCH
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rapprochement
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establishing a cordial relationship; developing mutual understanding
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rara avis
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unusual specimen
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redezvous
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appointment for two or more people to meet a a particular place
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reposte
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retort; retaliatory verbal sally
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safari
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trip or journey SWAHILI
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salaam
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peace (as salutation) ARABIC
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sanctum santorum
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holy of holies; office of an awesome person
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sang froid
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cold blood; self-possession, composure
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savoir-faire
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to know what to do
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schadenfreude
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pleasure at someone else's misfortunes
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sine qua non
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indespensable
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soupçon
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suspicion
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status quo
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current circumstances LATIN
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sui genera
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one of a kind
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tablusa rasa
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erased tablet - not yet affected by environment LATIN
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tempus fugit
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time flies LATIN
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tete-a-tete
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head to head - private conversation FRENCH
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tour de force
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feat of strength, skill, ingenuity
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vendetta
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blood feud
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veni, vidi, vici
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I came, I saw, I conquered LATIN
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verboten
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forbidden GERMAN
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vis-à-vis
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face to face with; in relation to; as compared with
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weltschmerz
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sorrow over the evils of the world
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Zeitqeist
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the mood of the moment GERMAN
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