Milieu

Pronunciation:
\mēl-ˈyə(r), -ˈyü, -ˈyœ; ˈmēl-yü\

Definition:
: the physical or social setting in which something occurs or develops : environment

Etymology:

French, from Old French, midst, from mi middle (from Latin medius) + lieu place, from Latin locus

First Known Use: 1854

I am currently reading the very cleverly written "The Widower's Tale" by Julia Glass. While reading an online review of the book, I ran across today's word in the following sentence:
 
Julia Glass gets plenty of things right in her expansive fourth novel, but no feature is more successful than the book's artfully conjured milieu.In most cases, and especially in Glass's books, "milieu" means not just an environment but a prevailing mood. Here, that mood is giddy bewilderment.
 
Not only does the writer of the article explain the word, but also adds to it! You gotta love it!!