accolade

/ˈæk.əˌleɪd/

Etymology

First use appears c. 1591 in the publications of Thomas Lodge, borrowed from French accolade, from Occitan acolada (“an embrace”), from acolar (“to embrace”), from Italian accollato, via Vulgar Latin *accollō (“to hug around the neck”), from Latin ad- + collum (“neck”) (English collar) + -āta.

accolade means an expression of approval; praise. Lexicurio rates it Rare gem — a strength score of 76 out of 100.

Why this word is great

ACCOLADE — [Noun] An award, honor, or expression of praise, especially one given as formal public recognition of achievement. From French accolade (“an embrace, a kiss”), from Occitan acolada (“an embrace”), from acolar (“to embrace”), from Vulgar Latin *accollāre (“to hug around the neck”), from Latin ad- (“to”) + collum (“neck”). Unlike “criticism,” which dissects and diminishes, or “citation,” which merely footnotes a fact, an accolade is a performed affirmation, a public sealing of merit. It is the remembered weight of a medal’s ribbon against the clavicle, the sharp crack of a certificate unfurling on a lectern, and the brief, enveloping warmth of a handshake that lasts a beat too long—a secular blessing for the secular soul, a formalized warmth that forever cools into a fact.

noun

An expression of approval; praise.“The scientist received the highest accolade in her field for the groundbreaking discovery.”
A special acknowledgment; an award.“This film is likely to pick up major accolades.”
An embrace of greeting or salutation.“[…] for the tears stood in the old gentleman's eyes, when, having first shaken Edward heartily by the hand in the English fashion, he embraced him a-la-mode Françoise, and kissed him on both sides of the face; while the hardness of his gripe, and the quantity of Scotch snuff which his accolade communicated, called corresponding drops of moisture to the eyes of his guest.”
A salutation marking the conferring of knighthood, consisting of an embrace or a kiss, and a slight blow on the shoulders with the flat of a sword.““Rise, Sir Miles Hendon, Knight,” said the King, gravely—giving the accolade with Hendon’s sword—“rise, and seat thyself. Thy petition is granted. Whilst England remains, and the crown continues, the privilege shall not lapse.””
A brace used to join two or more staves.
A written presidential certificate recognizing service by military personnel or civilians serving the US armed forces who died or were wounded in action between 1917 and 1918, or who died in service between 1941 and 1947, or died of wounds received in Korea between June 27, 1950 and July 27, 1954.

verb

To embrace or kiss in salutation.
To confer a knighthood on.
To confer praise or awards on.“an accoladed novel”