‖ à la, phr.
(ˈa ˌla)
[Fr. à la (sc. mode) in the manner.]
a. After the manner, method, or style of; in such phr. as à la Fran{cced}aise, and hence à la Reine (= à la mode de la Reine), à la Roi, etc. Also à la débandade: in confusion or disorder; à la fourchette: see fork-breakfast (fork n. 16); also, eaten informally; à la Russe: in Russian fashion; spec. designating a meal for which the table is dressed with flowers and dessert, while the courses are served from other tables or from another room. See also à la carte, à la page.
| 1589 Puttenham Eng. Poes. iii. xxv. 250 The breech a la Fran{cced}oise. 1646 Suckling Fragm. Aurea 61 As ill a Mine [= mien] as this Act has, 'twas a-la-Romansci, as you may see by a Line of Mr. Shakespears [cf. Jul. C. v. iii. 90]. a 1666 Evelyn Diary 19 Nov. an. 1644 (1955) II. 259 A deepe basso-relievo a l'antique. 1739 R. West Let. 21 June in Walpole Lett. (1857) I. 22 We supped à l'Angloise. Imprimis, we had buttock of beef. 1812 [see fork n. 16]. a 1823 D. Wordsworth Second Tour Scotl. in Jrnls. (1941) II. viii. 353 Sheltered in the Cabin, and took a breakfast a la fourchette—not at the gentry end. a 1828 ― Tour Continent in Ibid. II. 20 An elegant gauze mob-cap with flowers, and robe à la fran{cced}aise. 1828 Scott Jrnl. 3 Mar. (1890) II. 135, I do better à la débandade than I could with rules of regular study. 1828 Souvenir II. 95 (Stanford), The collar..is of fancy spotted silk, tied à-la-Russe, and fastened at the back of the neck. 1851 London at Table ii. 41 Serving a dinner à la Russe. 1863 Blackw. Mag. Mar. 305/2 The modern service à la Russe, adopted in all good houses, has struck a decisive blow at the old English heavy dinners. 1874 J. H. Walsh Dom. Econ. ix. ii. 701/1 A table set out à la Russe for a party of eighteen. 1919 G. B. Shaw Heartbreak Ho. p. xx, Police raid à la Russe. 1926 D. H. Lawrence Plumed Serp. vii. 123 Some of the organdie frocks had green legs and green feet, some had legs à la nature. 1939 A. Toynbee Stud. Hist. IV. 440 A pair of mounted men-at-arms..were eventually to drive the legionary off the field à la débandade. 1957 V. Nabokov Pnin 157 A supper à la fourchette. |
b. Cookery. In the names of particular dishes, denoting the manner in which they are prepared; as à la broche, brochette: (cooked) on a spit or skewer; à la meunière: see meunière.
| 1653 I. D. G. tr. De la Varenne's French Cook 58 Joint of Mutton after the Kingly manner (a la royale). 1723 J. Nott Cook's & Confectioner's Dict. No. 49b Beef a la Braise. Ibid. No. 59c To dress a Carp a la daube..take the Carp, fill the body..with this Farce, set it a stewing..pour on it your Ragoo and serve it up. 1747 H. Glasse Art of Cookery ii. 20 Beef à la Daub. Ibid. 24 Leg of Mutton à la Royale. Ibid. 44 To à la Daube Pigeons. 1853 E. K. Kane U.S. Grinn. Exped. xxxiv. 309 He made me this morning an idea of white bear's liver, à la brochette. 1882 Englishman 2 Dec. 3/5 Entrees, Chicken à la Stanley. Lamb Cutlets à la Reform. 1906 Mrs. Beeton Househ. Managem. lxii. 1652 À la Broche, roasted in front of the fire on a spit or skewer. 1959 R. Postgate Good Food Guide 31 What it can claim real distinction for is its cooking à la broche; chicken, duck or game roasted on the spit should be chosen. |
c. With English ns. and names.
| 1808 Jane Austen Let. 15 June (1932) 189 Yesterday passed quite à la Godmersham. 1814 ― Mansf. Park II. x. 218 Her happiness on this occasion was very much a-la-mortal, finely chequered. 1881 W. S. Gilbert Patience 1, An attachment à la Plato for a bashful young potato. 1926 Galsworthy Silver Spoon ii. x. 191 As for Foggartism, they didn't—à la ‘Evening Sun’—pooh-pooh it. |