Protagonist

Protagonist Protagonist [pro·tag·o·nist] n. The main figure or one of the most prominent figures in a real situation. The leading character or a major character in a drama, movie, novel, or other fictional text. “The unnamed protagonist was the hit of the film.”

epitome

epitome

  \ ih-PIT-uh-mee \  , noun;

1.

a person or thing that is typical of or possesses to a high degree the features of a whole class: He isthe epitome of goodness.

2.

a condensed account, especially of a literary work; abstract.

Quotes:

He used to say, the school itself initiated him a greatway (I remember that was his very expression); forgreat schools are little societies, where a boy of anyobservation may see in epitome  what he willafterwards find in the world at large.

-- Henry Fielding, The Adventures of Joseph Andrews, 1742

But far beyond all other creatures of the herd is thegoat, the epitome  of all that in an animal is worthliving for; full of frolic when a baby, and knowingnothing but to jump off small eminences, and to crymamma; conceited and pugnacious in youth; and inmaturity solemn to a degree that is at timesexasperating.

-- Oswald Parry, Six Months in a Syrian Monastery ,1895

Origin:

Epitome  came to English in the 1500s from the Greek meaning "abridgment" or "surface incision."

Amorous

Amorous [am·o·rous] adj. Showing, feeling, or relating to sexual desire. “She did not appreciate his amorous advances.”

lingua franca

lingua franca

  \ LING-gwuh FRANG-kuh \  , noun;

1.

any language that is widely used as a means of communication among speakers of other languages.

2.

(initial capital letter) the Italian-Provençal jargon (with elements of Spanish, French, Greek, Arabic,and Turkish) formerly widely used in eastern Mediterranean ports.

Quotes:

...though Ukrainian may be the official language,Russian is the lingua franca . Crimea may be politicallypart of Ukraine, but it identifies with Russiaemotionally and psychologically.

-- Cathy Newman, "After Ukraine Crisis, Why CrimeaMatters," National Geographic , 2014

As the guys drank up, with only Jason abstaining, theconversation skipped from fishing to lacrosse tofriends in common, the easy lingua franca  of youngmen from the prep-school dominion.

-- Tad Friend, "Thicker Than Water," The New Yorker, 2014

Origin:

This term comes from the Italian literally meaning"Frankish tongue." It's existed in English since the 1600s.

Sartorial

Sartorial

Sartorial [sar·to·ri·al] adj. Of or relating to tailoring, clothes, or style of dress. “Sartorial taste; “Sartorial elegance.”