accolade
noun
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What is the origin of accolade?
Give credit where credit is due: it's time to celebrate accolade for its centuries of laudatory service. Accolade joined English in the 16th century from the Middle French noun acolade, which in turn comes from the verb accoler, meaning "to embrace." When it was first borrowed from French, accolade referred to a ceremonial embrace that formally conferred knighthood. The term was later extended to other ceremonial acts conferring knighthood (such as the familiar touching of the shoulders with the flat part of a sword's blade), and then to other ceremonies marking the recognition of a special merit, distinction, or achievement. Today it refers more broadly to an award or expression of praise.
Synonyms
Examples of accolade in a Sentence
Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 6 Sep. 2024
If the vice president and Democrats’ new standard-bearer wants to wrap herself in the aura and energy of Oakland, many in this proud, struggling city are happy to accept the accolade.
—Mark Z. Barabak, Los Angeles Times, 5 Sep. 2024
Since 2019, when accolade was first given out, though, it has been bestowed upon actors later recognized by the Academy Awards.
—Raechal Shewfelt, EW.com, 3 Sep. 2024
Despite the decades of success, awards and accolades resulting in the band still actively packing out arenas in 2024, there was once a time where fans quite literally threw food scraps at the group.
—Chris Barilla, Peoplemag, 1 Sep. 2024
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These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'accolade.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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“Accolade.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/accolade. Accessed 12 Sep. 2024.
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accolade
noun
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