actuel, 'of the present day

1. 16. Polichinelle, the original of our Punch (properly Punchinello). It first appeared in France in the reign of Louis XIV. It appears to be of Neapolitan origin, Polichinello being a peasant "abnormis sapiens crassaque Minerva." The word polichinelle with a small initial letter is limited to the wooden puppet with which we are familiar.

1. 17. nerveux. Not in the common sense of the English word, with sensitive nerves, but in the rarer sense, common to both languages, of 'vigorous,' full of energy. Thus in Fénelon's dialogue between Theseus and Hercules, Theseus says "Tout ton mérite était dans tes bras nerveux et tes larges épaules." In English we say 'a nervous style.'

élancé, 'slight,' 'thin.'

convulsif, 'violent,' 'irrepressible.'

L 18. recherché, 'particular,' 'affected.'