n.
A quality or attribute that is difficult to describe or express: "Fishing has lacked a certain je ne sais quoi in terms of its public image, as all activities must that involve beer, worms and one-size-fits-all gimme caps" (Charles Leerhsen).
[French : je, I + ne, not + sais, first person present indicative of savoir, to know + quoi, what.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
