May 10, 2008
Saturday, 10th May 2008 : Today's Word is ...
Forte
Pronunciation : fawrt & f�wr-t�y
1. something that somebody is particularly good at
2. the strongest section of a sword's blade, between the middle and the hilt
3. something at which a person excels
Usage Note : The word forte, coming from French fort, should properly be pronounced with one syllable, like the English word fort. Common usage, however, prefers the two-syllable pronunciation (f�r'tā') which has been influenced possibly by the music term forte borrowed from Italian. In a recent survey a strong majority of the Usage Panel, 74 percent, preferred the two-syllable pronunciation. The result is a delicate situation: speakers who are aware of the origin of the word may wish to continue to pronounce it as one syllable but at an increasing risk of puzzling their listeners.
Mid-17th century - Via French fort - strong
specialty, strong point, strong suit, long suit
failing
� The orchestra's forte was playing Mozart concertos.
� You know what my forte is, Gilbert--the fanciful, the fairylike, the pretty.
� I don't know what her forte is, but it's not music.
� Cooking is not really my forte.
� The construction of a fable seems by no means the forte of our modern poetical writers.
� forte : Noun meaning fencing
