Tartuffe

[ tahr-toof, -toof; French tar-tyf ]

noun

, plural Tar·tuffes [tahr-, toofs, -, toofs, t, a, r, -, tyf]

1. (italics) a comedy (1664–69) by Molière.
2. Also Tar·tufe. (often lowercase) a hypocritical pretender to piety.

Tartuffe

/ tɑːˈtʊf; -ˈtuːf /

noun

1. a person who hypocritically pretends to be deeply pious

Derived Forms

• Tarˈtuffian, adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of Tartuffe¹

from the character in the Molière's comedy Tartuffe (1664)

Example Sentences

She played also several important rles in comedy, among them the Dorine of Tartuffe.

From Project Gutenberg

Vaucorbeil laughed in his face; Girbal shrugged his shoulders; and the captain called him Tartuffe.

From Project Gutenberg

How applicable are the words of Tartuffe to the advocates of this measure!

From Project Gutenberg

The part of the impostor and that of Aristes constitute a very admirable contrast in "Tartuffe."

From Project Gutenberg

The next scene introduces Valre, the noble lover of that daughter whom the infatuated father was bent on sacrificing to Tartuffe.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• deceiver
• hypocrite
• pretender