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Possible definitions for zaffre

Joffre
French commander in chief on the Western Front in World War I. He was responsible for the calamitous campaign with which the French army began operations in 1914 against Germany, but he shifted his forces and created a new French army under his direct command that won a great victory in the First Battle of the Marne (1914). As commander in chief (1915-16), he ordered the French armies to burst through the German positions, at ruinous cost. His prestige waned, and because of the lack of French preparation for the Battle of Verdun (1916) he was stripped of his direct command and resigned. He was created a marshal of France in 1916.


Manfred
King of Sicily (1258-66). The illegitimate son of Frederick II, he was made vicar of Italy and Sicily for his half brother Conrad IV, but following Conrad's death, he soon began seeking the Sicilian crown for himself. He resisted Pope Alexander IV's efforts to assign the throne to an English rival, and after fighting off a papal army, Manfred was crowned king in 1258. He became a defender of the Ghibellines in N Italy (see Guelphs and Ghibellines). Pope Urban IV declared Charles of Anjou (later Charles I) king of Sicily, and Manfred fell in battle against Charles's army.


saffron
Golden-colored, pungent seasoning and dye obtained from the dried stigmas of flowers of the saffron crocus (Crocus sativus), a bulbous perennial of the iris family. Because 1 lb (0.45 kg) of saffron represents 75,000 blossoms, it is the world's most expensive spice. The color and flavor are essential ingredients for certain Mediterranean and Asian dishes, as well as for special English, Scandinavian, and Balkan baked goods. Since ancient times, saffron has been the official color for the robes of Buddhist priests and for royal garments in several cultures. Greeks and Romans scattered saffron as a perfume in halls, courts, theaters, and baths.


Safire
U.S. journalist. Born in New York City and educated at Syracuse Univ., he worked as a newspaper reporter and at radio and television stations before entering the public-relations field, eventually founding his own successful firm. He was a speechwriter for S. Agnew and then for R. Nixon. In 1973 he began his conservative and vigorously written "Essay" column for the New York Times, which earned him a Pulitzer Prize in 1978. He also writes on linguistic issues in the New York Times Magazine. Among his books are the novels Full Disclosure (1977) and Sleeper Spy (1995) and works of lexicographical interest.

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