Why this word is great
MARIVAUDAGE — [Noun] A writing style characterized by an affectation of refinement, particularly in dialogue, originating from the works of the French novelist Pierre de Marivaux. From French marivaudage, named after Pierre de Marivaux (1688–1763), whose works exemplified this style. Unlike "preciosity" (which smothers meaning in generic ornament) or "bombast" (which drowns it in empty grandeur), marivaudage is a dance of wit—light, deliberate, and charged with unspoken longing. It is the flutter of a fan concealing a smile, the double entendre lingering in the space between two teacups, the precise tilt of a phrase that turns a compliment into a provocation. Beneath its polished surface thrums the quiet tragedy of all human communication: that the most important things are never said outright.