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savoir-faire (n.)
"instinctive knowledge of the right course of action in any circumstance, faculty of knowing just what to do and how to do it," 1815 (Scott), a French phrase in English, literally "to know (how) to do," from savoir "to know" (from Latin sapere; see sapient) + faire (from Latin facere "to make, do;" from PIE root *dhe- "to set, put"). French also has savoir-vivre "knowledge of and ability in the usages of polite society; knowledge of customs in the world," which turns up in English writers, occasionally, in italics.
updated on January 08, 2022
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Dictionary entries near savoir-faire
Saville Row
saving
savings
savior
saviour
savoir-faire
Savonarola
savor
savory
savour
savoury