...read that today and didn't recognize the word, thought it was neat, I learned something!
élan
ey-lahn, ey-lan; Fr. ey-lahn
–noun
dash; impetuous ardor: to dance with great élan
Enthusiastic vigor and liveliness.
Distinctive style or flair.
[Origin: 1875–80; F, MF eslan a dash, rush, n. deriv. of eslancer to dart: es-</i>, out + lancer, to throw (from Late Latin lanceāre, to throw a lance, from Latin lancea, lance)]