Versailles

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A historical city in France known for its grand palace and gardens, which served as a center of political power during the 17th and 18th centuries
2. A notable city in France famous for its opulent royal palace and sprawling gardens, which played a crucial role in history as a symbol of absolute monarchy
3. A significant location near Paris renowned for its elaborate palace and extensive gardens, pivotal in the development of French political history

Etymology: The likeliest root of the name is a Proto-Indo-European word "wert-", meaning "to turn around," which would make a place called Versailles originally a description of a turn or bend in the land. Its Latin origin is uncertain, though, so this connection remains a possibility rather than a settled fact. English borrowed the name directly from French, keeping the French form. It is now most often used for the royal palace and gardens that made the town famous, and for the political history tied to them. In the 1970s, Vietnamese American residents gave the name to a community they had formed, after the Versailles Arms apartment complex where many of them first settled. A French royal name thus took root in an American neighbourhood through the people who had first lived in that building.