Dictionary.com

Word of the Day Archive
Saturday February 17, 2007

doyen \DOY-en; DWAH-yan\, noun:
1. The senior member of a body or group.
2. One who is knowledgeable or uniquely skilled as a result of long experience in some field of endeavor.
3. A woman who is a doyen.

Two dozen reporters, led by Helen Thomas of United Press International, the seventy-six-year-old doyenne of the press corps, filed into the room.
-- Howard Kurtz, Spin Cycle

Christian Dior, doyen of fashion, introduced the New Look for women, with long flowing skirts and a strong emphasis on nonpractical femininity.
-- Zachary Karabell, The Last Campaign

Doyen is from French, from Late Latin decanus, "leader or chief of ten persons," from decem, "ten."

Dictionary.com Entry and Pronunciation for doyen

 

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