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bel esprit
[ bel es-pree ]
/ bɛl ɛsˈpri /
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This shows grade level based on the word's complexity.
noun, plural beaux es·prits [boh zes-pree]. /boʊ zɛsˈpri/. French.
a person of great wit or intellect: He found this charming bel esprit, not among his university colleagues, but in the person of a young widow on the outskirts of town.
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Sometimes bel-es·prit .
Origin of bel esprit
First recorded in 1630–40; French: literally, “fine mind, wittiness”
Words nearby bel esprit
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use bel esprit in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for bel esprit
bel esprit
/ French (bɛl ɛspri) /
noun plural beaux esprits (boz ɛspri)
a witty or clever person
Word Origin for bel esprit
literally: fine wit
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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