bel esprit
Americannoun
-
beaux esprits
plural
noun
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of bel esprit
First recorded in 1630–40; French: literally, “fine mind, wittiness”
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The remnants beyond the threshold were from an estate that belonged to George Bucknam Dorr, a Boston lawyer, philanthropist, trail builder, bel esprit and a founder of Acadia National Park.
From New York Times ● Aug. 8, 2014
This famous bel esprit played a very prominent part here.
From The Women of the French Salons by Amelia Ruth Gere Mason
It really requires the strength of Hercules, mind and body, to go through our labours, fashionable, political, bel esprit, altogether too much for mortal.
From Tales and Novels — Volume 10 by Maria Edgeworth
The poor's catechist has little bel esprit, but much saint esprit, much honesty, much truth, too much soft-heartedness, and infinite love.
From Hesperus or Forty-Five Dog-Post-Days Vol. I. A Biography by Jean Paul
It was not till about forty, when she had exhausted other excitements, that she took to bel esprit.
From Correspondence & Conversations of Alexis de Tocqueville with Nassau William Senior from 1834 to 1859, Volume 2 by Alexis de Tocqueville
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