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

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The menu also reflects the notes and flavors of Creed’s most celebrated fragrances, like the snapdragon apple madeleines (inspired by Aventus For Her) and hazelnut tonka cream puff (inspired by Sublime Vanille). —

Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 9 Feb. 2025 Putting them on can be like tasting Proust’s madeleine, sending you down a psychological and emotional wormhole and putting you back in the mental space of an earlier moment. —

Vanessa Friedman, New York Times, 20 Jan. 2025 With a breakfast buffet that includes chocolate croissants, madeleines, and Nutella, and a lobby closet filled with costumes and games, the 40-room Hôtel Léopold is ideal for families. —

Lauren Matison, Travel + Leisure, 7 Dec. 2024 The unassuming madeleines embody Xiao Ye’s eclectic, expansive ethos: delicate French pastries baked with mochi rice flour and masa, dusted in jalapeño powder. —

The Bon Appétit Staff & Contributors, Bon Appétit, 21 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for madeleine