termidoro

Thermidor

noun ter-mee-DOH-roh Rare

Origin: French 'Thermidor', from Greek 'therme' (heat) + 'doron' (gift).

Usage Note

Termidoro is the eleventh month of the French Revolutionary calendar (roughly mid-July to mid-August). In Italian political discourse la reazione termidoriana — the Thermidorian reaction — denotes any conservative backlash that halts a radical revolution, echoing the 1794 coup against Robespierre. It is used almost exclusively in historical or metaphorical contexts.

Examples

"La caduta di Robespierre avvenne durante il Termidoro."

Natural Translation

The fall of Robespierre occurred during Thermidor.

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