English
en clair
En clair comes from French en clair ‘simply put, in brief’.
- Frenchc. 1600–presenten clair‘simply put, in brief’
- Englishearliest quotation 2003same form
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Frenchc. 1600–presenten clair‘simply put, in brief’
- Englishearliest quotation 2003same form
Earliest quotation: 2003, Nicholas Atkin, Agents consulaires or agents provocateurs?: “So it was that Chartier was forced to telegramme…”
Every English word from French en clair
Today it means
adv In the clear; without any encryption.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / French en clair / en clair