Usage of "ala"?

[nq:1]I've seen the word "ala" used a number of times to mean "in the manner of" or "like", but I ... somebody please enlighten me to its origin, actual meaning and if it needs to be italicized when used in English.[/nq]
Spell it "a la" and look it up at www.m-w.com
I'll give it to you this time:
Main Entry: à la
Variant(s): also a la /"ä-(")lä, "ä-l&, "a-l&/
Function: preposit

[nq:1]I've seen the word "ala" used a number of times to mean "in the manner of" or "like", but I ... somebody please enlighten me to its origin, actual meaning and if it needs to be italicized when used in English.[/nq]
It's French, and it's two words, à la. That first is an a with a grave accent by the way, in case your newsreader chewed up the special character. "in the manner of" is a reas

[nq:1]I've seen the word "ala" used a number of times to mean "in the manner of" or "like", but I ... enlighten me to its origin, actual meaning and if it needs to be italicized when used in English. Thanks, -Jason[/nq]
French it is - à la (two words)
No need to italicise. It means 'after the style of, in the manner of, according to'. Used in phrases like 'à la mode' - after the fashion. U

[nq:1]I've seen the word "ala" used a number of times to mean "in the manner of" or "like", but I ... somebody please enlighten me to its origin, actual meaning and if it needs to be italicized when used in English.[/nq]
It's French "a la" meaning literally "at the" but used to mean "flavoured" or "in the style of".
Adrian

[nq:1]I've seen the word "ala" used a number of times to mean "in the manner of" or "like", but I ... somebody please enlighten me to its origin, actual meaning and if it needs to be italicized when used in English.[/nq]
French "à la", with the meaning you ascribe to it. The phrase "à la Russe", for example, means "in the Russian style".

As to italicising it in English, I consider it

The inimitable Jason Kirk (Email Removed) stated one day
[nq:1]I've seen the word "ala" used a number of times to mean "in the manner of" or "like", but I ... it - which probably means I'm spelling it wrong or looking in the wrong language (I'd guess latin or french).[/nq]
That'd be "Latin or French" if you were really trying to spell them.
[nq:1]Could somebody please enlighten me to i

[nq:1]French it is - à la (two words) No need to italicise. It means 'after the style of, in the ... the feminine form of the construction, strictly a reference to a masculine word should employ 'au' instead - au gratin.[/nq]
True, but I wonder if the gender rules for cooking might be a little different from other references.
I asked a French teacher why it's "à la" and not "au" in cases w

[nq:2]I've seen the word "ala" used a number of times ... needs to be italicized when used in English. Thanks, -Jason[/nq]
[nq:1]French it is - à la (two words) No need to italicise. It means 'after the style of, in the ... gratin. The term is used freely with non-French terms - jokes à la Monty Python, architecture à la Milton Keynes.[/nq]
What, then, is "chicken a la king"? A Louis XVI c

Short for "a1a51640". Where *is* he, anyway?

Cool. Thanks to everybody who responded.
-Jason