Inconnu
Noun
- An unknown person or thing.
- An edible predatory freshwater whitefish that is related to the salmon. It lives in Eurasian and North American lakes close to the Arctic Circle. (plural inconnu)
Example Sentences
“She comes across as an inconnu, but her shyness disappears once she’s comfortable.”
“The pop artist remained an inconnu until a decade after his death, when his paintings became highly desired collector’s items.”
“If he stuck with poetry, he likely would have remained an inconnu, but his first mystery novel became a bestseller.”
Word Origin
French, early 19th century
Why this word?
This French loanword translates literally as “unknown.” A person called an inconnu might be mysterious and unknowable in demeanor, or they might be unrecognized in their field; check the context for the usage. The secondary definition of “inconnu” is a type of fish related to salmon found in North American lakes close to the Arctic Circle. When early French explorers came across this fish, it was unknown or “inconnu” to them. The fish goes by many other names, including sailfish, nelma, sheefish, and the affectionate “connie.” Inconnu is the only predatory member of the whitefish group in North America and is a highly sought-after sport fish.
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