aplombs
|a-plomb|
🇺🇸
/əˈplɑːm/
🇬🇧
/əˈplɒm/
(aplomb)
steady confidence
Etymology
'aplomb' originates from French, specifically the phrase 'à plomb', where 'à' meant 'to/according to' and 'plomb' meant 'lead (a plummet or plumb line)'.
'aplomb' was borrowed into English from French in the 18th century; the original French phrase 'à plomb' (literally 'according to the plumb') referred to verticality and stability, and this sense led to the figurative English meaning of composure.
Initially it referred to a literal vertical position or the plumb weight used to establish it; over time it evolved into the figurative sense of steady self-confidence or composure.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
plural form of 'aplomb' — calm self‑confidence or composure, especially in a difficult situation.
She answered the hostile questions with surprising aplombs.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Noun 2
archaic/rare: (literally) perpendicularity or steadiness — originally referring to the vertical position or the weight used to establish verticality.
In older technical descriptions, references to aplombs meant the exact vertical alignment.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/09/18 14:36