Brewer's: Point d'Appui

(French). A standpoint; a fulcrum; a position from which you can operate; a pretext to conceal the real intention. Literally the point of support.

“The material which gives name to the dish is but the point d'appui for the literary cayenne and curry-powder by which it is recommended to the palate of the 'cader.” —The Athenoeum.

Related Content Allusions Foreign Words and Phrases Latin and Greek Word Elements Names: Their Origins and Meanings Old Testament Names Mythology Ancient Greek Literature & Mythology The Bible (King James version) The Koran (translation by J. M. Rodwell) Shakespeare's Plays Tales from Shakespeare (Charles and Mary Lamb) Frequently Misspelled Words Frequently Mispronounced Words Easily Confused Words Writing & Language