noblesse oblige
no-BLESS´ oh-BLEEZH´ French for ‘nobility obligates,’ the concept that high birth or rank obligates one to behave generously and honorably.
Author: toddmorrill
scion
SIGH´-uhn A scion is a person, generally young, born into a rich and influential family.
carriage trade
The term carriage trade originally referred to business transacted with rich clients, but with time, it has also come to describe the group of rich clients themselves. As a general […]
jet set
The term jet set refers to the international group of rich people who congregate at the world’s most fashionable resorts. Members of the jet set are also members of the […]
entablature
en-TAB´-luh-chur An entablature, in classical Greek and Roman architecture, is a three-part structure resting atop a series of columns or pilasters. Traditionally, entablatures were made of stone, but they can […]
colonnade
cawl-uhn-ADE´ A colonnade is a series of columns spaced at regular intervals. For example, all four sides of a classical Greek temple have colonnades, which support the roof of the […]
portico
POR´-tuh-coh A portico is a covered porch, usually at the front of a building, formed by a colonnade supporting an extended roof. Think of the White House, which has porticos […]
Palladian window
puh-LAY´-dee-uhn A Palladian window is a large, composite window made of three vertical sections. The middle section, which is wider than the side sections, has an arched top. Palladian windows, […]
enfilade
EN´-fuh-layd An enfilade is a series of aligned internal doorways that forms a long vista when the doors are open. Enfilades were an important feature of palace architecture in the […]
loggia
LOW´-juh A loggia is a roofed porch, gallery, or hall open to the outside air on one or more sides. Loggias evolved in the Mediterranean region as open sitting rooms […]