cachet

1 an indication of approved or superior status [syn: seal, seal of approval]

2 a warrant formerly issued by a French king who could warrant imprisonment or death in a signed letter under his seal [syn: lettre de cachet]

3 a seal on a letter

English

Etymology

From cachet.

Pronunciation

• IPA: /kæˈʃeɪ/ or /ˈkæʃeɪ/

  Rhymes: -æʃeɪ

Noun

1. A special characteristic or quality.

   I remember when this diner was a quiet hangout, but lately it seems to be losing its cachet.

2. A seal, as of a letter.

Synonyms

• quality: charm, je ne sais quoi, magic touch, oomph, zing

Usage notes

(sense 1): This word is often used in the negative. e.g., to lose/be losing its/oneʼs cachet.

French

Etymology

From cacher.

Pronunciation

• /ka.ʃɛ/

Noun

fr-noun m

1. cachet

Related terms

• caché

In philately, a cachet is a printed or stamped design or inscription, other than a cancellation or pre-printed postage, on an envelope, postcard, or postal card to commemorate a postal or philatelic event. There are official and private cachets; they commemorate everything from the first flight on a particular route, to the Super Bowl. Cachets are also frequently made, either by private companies or a government, for First day of issue stamp events or 'Second-Day' stamp events. They are often present on event covers.

The first cacheted FDC (first day cover) was produced by prominent philatelist and cachetmaker George W. Linn in 1923, for the Harding Memorial stamp issue.

thumb|left|200|Autographed USPOD cover with rubber-stamp cachets and backstamps flown northbound by [[Charles Lindbergh between St. Louis and Chicago on February 21, 1928, and southbound on February 21. (The Cooper Collections)]]Cachet-making is considered an art form, and cachets may be produced by using any number of methods, including drawing or painting directly onto the envelope, serigraphy, block printing, lithography, engraving, laser printing, attachment of photographs or other paper memorabilia, etc. Frequently flight cachets (which have also been used in space and on the moon) are rubber-stamped.

The largest and best-known cachet-making companies, which typically produce thousands or tens of thousands of printed cachets for U.S. stamp issues, are Artcraft, Fleetwood, House of Farnam, and Colorano.

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