Foreign Phrases
There are a certain number of French phrases that custom has declared shall take the place of that “pure English undefiled” whereof Spenser wrote. In a few cases these chance to be shorter, more euphonious, and more directly to the point than the corresponding English phrase. For instance, the word “chaperon,” so important in its signification at the present, has no adequate English translation. Below is given an alphabetical list of those phrases in most frequent use, together with the abbreviations that ofttimes serve in place of the full phrase:
| French Phrases. | Abbreviations. | Translations. |
| Bal masque | A masquerade ball. | |
| Chaperon | An older woman attending a girl in society. | |
| Costume de rigueur | Costume to be full dress. | |
| Début | First appearance. | |
| Débutante | A young girl making her first social appearance. | |
| En ville | E.V. | In town or city. |
| Fête Champêtre | A rural or outdoor entertainment. | |
| Matinée | A morning or daylight entertainment. | |
| Matinée musicale | A daylight musical entertainment. | |
| Musicale | Musical entertainment. | |
| Pour dire adieu | P.D.A. | To say farewell. |
| Pour prendre congé | P.P.C. | To take leave. |
| Protégé | One under protection. | |
| Repondez s’il vous plait | R.S.V.P. | Reply if you please. |
| Soirée | An evening party. | |
| Soirée dansante | A dancing party. | |
| Soirée musicale | A musical entertainment. |
The term en ville, when used in the place of “city,” in addressing a note that is to pass through the postman’s hands, is a needless and annoying affectation, since it is hardly to be expected that a knowledge of the French language forms one of the qualifications for a letter-carrier’s position, and if delay ensues in delivery, the writer, not the carrier, is to blame.