madeleine

noun

mad·e·leine ˈma-də-lən

ˌma-də-ˈlān

: a small rich shell-shaped cake

: one that evokes a memory

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The Madeleine Goes Back to France

The madeleine is said to have been named after a 19th-century French cook named Madeleine Paumier, but it was the French author Marcel Proust who immortalized the pastry in his 1913 book Swann's Way, the first volume of his seven-part novel Remembrance of Things Past. In that work, a taste of tea-soaked cake evokes a surge of memory and nostalgia. As more and more readers chewed on the profound mnemonic power attributed to a mere morsel of cake, the word madeleine itself became a designation for anything that evokes a memory.

Examples of madeleine in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Plus, a few more ideas for the person who’s obsessed with all things French: A set of silicone madeleine molds for that Proust moment, luxe fleur de sel harvested from the actual French seaside, and a striped linen bag specifically for transporting and storing baguettes. —

Mackenzie Chung Fegan, Bon Appétit, 24 Oct. 2024 The welcome ritual is deceptively simple: a warm madeleine and an espresso that recalibrated my caffeine standards. —

Paul Jebara, Travel + Leisure, 18 Oct. 2024 Try madeleines from Madeleines de Christophe — while the treat is found all over France, this shop has the very best. —

Mark Bonte, Travel + Leisure, 4 Oct. 2024 The same assortment of beverages was served in February, but the food changed slightly with madeleines, bread and butter on the menu. —

Michelle Lee, Peoplemag, 26 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for madeleine

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'madeleine.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.