Showing results for "beaux esprits"

• plural of bel esprit.

beaux esprits

American  

[boh zes-pree] / boʊ zɛsˈpri /

Sometimes beaux-esprits

noun

French.

1. plural of bel esprit.

   In an era ironically called the Enlightenment, these young women were discouraged from becoming beaux esprits.

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Etymology

Origin of beaux esprits

First recorded in 1630–40; see origin at bel esprit ( def. )

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

beaux esprits

How frail are human ties, have said the beaux esprits of every age in one epigrammatic fashion or another.

From Gaslight Sonatas by Hurst, Fannie

"You surely do yourself injustice, sir," said I; "I have certainly heard more good things from you this evening than from any of those beaux esprits by whom you appear to have been so daunted."

From Tales of a Traveller by Irving, Washington

Are there yet more beaux esprits to arise who, in Epicurean fashion, enjoy the beautiful thoughts of others, whilst they themselves remain incapable for action, letting the time go out of joint?

From Shakspere and Montaigne by Feis, Jacob

Mme. du Deffand speaks with prophetic vision of the reasoners and beaux esprits "who direct the age and lead it to its ruin."

From The Women of the French Salons by Mason, Amelia Ruth Gere

Fontenelle, Voltaire, Duclos, and Crebillon, who, in their character of beaux esprits, had the entrée of the house, spread everywhere abroad throughout the fashionable world the praises of her beauty, her grace, and her talents.

From International Miscellany of Literature, Art and Science, Vol. 1, No. 3, Oct. 1, 1850 by Various