Word of the Day.

Demarche.

"No government could issue an informal demarche of such importance to someone not in the acknoweledged government of Germany, but Halifax asked Churchill to send a letter."

Hitler's Spy Chief, Richard Bassett, p. 154.

A démarche ( /deɪˈmɑrʃ/; from the French word whose literal meaning is "gait")[1] has come to refer either to

1.a line of action; move; countermove; maneuver, esp. in diplomatic relations,[2][3] or

2.formal diplomatic representation of the official position, views, or wishes on a given subject from one government to another government or intergovernmental organization.

Diplomatic démarches are delivered to the appropriate official of the government or organization. Démarches generally seek to persuade, inform, or gather information from a foreign government. Governments may also use a démarche to protest or object to actions by a foreign government. Informally, the word is sometimes used as a verb to describe making or receiving such correspondence.