/ ˌfæm fəˈtɑːl; NAmE ˌfem fəˈtæl/ noun
( pl. femmes fa·tales / ˌfæm fəˈtɑːl; -z; NAmE ˌfem fəˈtæl/) (from French ) a very beautiful woman that men find sexually attractive but who brings them trouble or unhappiness
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WORD ORIGIN
early 20th cent.: French , literally disastrous woman .