Nuance

A nuance (/njuɒns/) or shade of meaning, is a subtle difference in meaning between one word and another. Because of its wide-spread origins, English is especially rich in synonyms and resulting nuances.

Origin

According to William Safire, Horace Walpole was the first to use the word in Enlgihs in print in 1781: “The more expert one were at nuances, the more poetic one should be.” Etymologically it's of French origin.

See also

• History of the English languages

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