Question

dégringolade noun If "dégringolade" looks French to you, you have a good eye. We lifted this noun directly from French, and even in English it is usually styled with an acute accent over the first "e," as in French. The French noun in turn comes from the verb "dégringoler" ("to tumble down"), which itself derives from the Middle French "desgringueler" (from "des-," meaning "down," and "gringueler," meaning "to tumble"). Although "dégringolade" retains the sense of a sudden tumble in English, it tends to be applied to more metaphorical situations -- a rapid fall from a higher position in society, for example. These days, "dégringolade" is fairly rare in American English. We rely far more heavily on its familiar synonym "downfall." : a rapid decline or deterioration (as in strength, position, or condition) : downfall

Accepted Answer

February 13, 2008 day-gran-guh-LAHD The journalist's reputation never recovered from the dégringolade that ensued when it was discovered that he had plagiarized another's work.

Word	dégringolade
Date	February 13, 2008
Type	noun
Syllables	day-gran-guh-LAHD
Etymology	If "dégringolade" looks French to you, you have a good eye. We lifted this noun directly from French, and even in English it is usually styled with an acute accent over the first "e," as in French. The French noun in turn comes from the verb "dégringoler" ("to tumble down"), which itself derives from the Middle French "desgringueler" (from "des-," meaning "down," and "gringueler," meaning "to tumble"). Although "dégringolade" retains the sense of a sudden tumble in English, it tends to be applied to more metaphorical situations -- a rapid fall from a higher position in society, for example. These days, "dégringolade" is fairly rare in American English. We rely far more heavily on its familiar synonym "downfall."
Examples	The journalist's reputation never recovered from the dégringolade that ensued when it was discovered that he had plagiarized another's work.
Definition	: a rapid decline or deterioration (as in strength, position, or condition) : downfall

Noun Dégringolade French Tumble Meaning Rapid February Day Gran Guh Lahd