bel esprit
Americannoun
noun
Other Word 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
In this village lived a Jewish bookbinder, Simcha Kalimann, a wit and bel esprit, the oracle of the entire province, the living chronicle of his times and people.
From Stories by Foreign Authors: German — Volume 1 by Various
Mademoiselle has le bel esprit, what you call Mericanhumor.
From Molly Brown of Kentucky by Speed, Nell
"Pray, ma'am, has she come out, or is she simply bel esprit?" inquired the lady.
From Marriage by Ferrier, Susan Edmonstone
William Pate, "bel esprit and woollen-draper," as Swift called him, lived opposite the Royal Exchange.
From The Journal to Stella by Swift, Jonathan
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
