connoisseur

[kon-uh-sur, -soo r]

See more synonyms for connoisseur on Thesaurus.com

noun

a person who is especially competent to pass critical judgments in an art, particularly one of the fine arts, or in matters of taste: a connoisseur of modern art.
a discerning judge of the best in any field: a connoisseur of horses.

Origin of connoisseur

1705–15; < French; Old French conoiseor < Latin cognōscitōr- (stem of cognōscitor) knower. See cognoscible, -tor

Related formscon·nois·seur·ship, noun

Synonyms

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critic, aesthete.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for connoisseur

Contemporary Examples

Instead, Costume Institute curators seem more wedded to surface appearance than any connoisseur of Old Master oils could be.
Punk: Chaos to Couture at the Costume Institute Shows How Derivative the Style Has Become
Blake Gopnik
May 6, 2013
As any connoisseur of good food knows, this kind of copying happens all the time.
In ‘The Knockoff Economy,’ The Upside to Ripping Off Others’ Ideas
Kal Raustiala, Christopher Sprigman
September 8, 2012
Sallust is ruthless and charming, a connoisseur of rare wines and rare women.
The Novelist Who Spied: How Dennis Wheatley Helped Defeat the Nazis
Tina Rosenberg
August 8, 2012
Like all instinctive gamblers, Trump is a connoisseur of the expert bluff.
Trump Endorsed Romney Because It Was Like Calling to Like
Lee Siegel
February 3, 2012
Swinging from a plastic highchair, I was a 2-year old connoisseur of the chicken liver.
For the Love of Pâté
Molly Hannon
January 5, 2011

Historical Examples

The Emperor, who had been waiting for the invitation, posed once more as connoisseur.
The Fte At Coqueville
Emile Zola
I speak as a connoisseur, for faces are a specialty of mine.
The Captain of the Pole-Star and Other Tales
Arthur Conan Doyle
It was there, and he went on inspecting the legs, with the air of a connoisseur.
The Night Riders
Ridgwell Cullum
"You are well known as a connoisseur, Mr. Acton," he went on hurriedly.
Masterpieces of Mystery
Various
Willems was a connoisseur in the drink and an adept at the game.
An Outcast of the Islands
Joseph Conrad

British Dictionary definitions for connoisseur

connoisseur

noun

a person with special knowledge or appreciation of a field, esp in the arts

Derived Formsconnoisseurship, noun

Word Origin

C18: from French, from Old French conoiseor, from connoistre to know, from Latin cognōscere

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for connoisseur

n.

1714, from French connoisseur (Modern French connaiseur), from Old French conoisseor "an expert, a judge, one well-versed," from conoistre "to know," from Latin cognoscere "to know, to become well-acquainted with," from com- "with" (see com-) + gnoscere "recognize" (see notice (v.)).

connoisseur

Origin of .css-1fxfie5{font-size:22px;}@media (max-width:768px){.css-1fxfie5{font-size:18px;margin:0 10px 10px 0;word-break:break-all;word-wrap:break-word;-webkit-hyphens:auto;-moz-hyphens:auto;-ms-hyphens:auto;hyphens:auto;line-height:22px;}}connoisseur

Synonyms

Examples from the Web for connoisseur

Contemporary Examples

Instead, Costume Institute curators seem more wedded to surface appearance than any connoisseur of Old Master oils could be.

As any connoisseur of good food knows, this kind of copying happens all the time.

Sallust is ruthless and charming, a connoisseur of rare wines and rare women.

Like all instinctive gamblers, Trump is a connoisseur of the expert bluff.

Swinging from a plastic highchair, I was a 2-year old connoisseur of the chicken liver.

Historical Examples

The Emperor, who had been waiting for the invitation, posed once more as connoisseur.

I speak as a connoisseur, for faces are a specialty of mine.

It was there, and he went on inspecting the legs, with the air of a connoisseur.

"You are well known as a connoisseur, Mr. Acton," he went on hurriedly.

Willems was a connoisseur in the drink and an adept at the game.

connoisseur

Word Origin

Word Origin and History for connoisseur

n.

Origin of connoisseur