Visit the OED's home page at www.oed.com
where you can learn "à la débandade, adv. ( and adj.)" - Word of the Day from the OED Your word for today is: à la débandade, adv. (and adj.) à la débandade , adv. (and adj. ) [‘ In a manner or by a method not restricted by formation, discipline, or rules; in disordered haste; in confusion, disorder, or disarray; randomly. Occas. as adj. ’] Pronunciation: Brit. /ˌa la ˌdeɪbɑːnˈdɑːd/ , /ˌa lə ˌdeɪbɑːnˈdɑːd/ , /ˌɑː lɑː ˌdeɪbɑːnˈdɑːd/ , U.S. /ˌɑ lɑ ˌdeɪbɑnˈɑd/ , /ˌɑ lə ˌdeɪbɑnˈɑd/ Forms: 17 a la debandade , 17– à la débandade . Etymology: A borrowing from French. Etymons: French à la débandade . < French à la débandade (1559 in Middle French as a la desbandade ) < à la à la prep. + desbandade act of disbanding, disorder (1559 in the expression cited above) < desbander disband v. + -ade -ade suffix . o...