connoisseur
[kon-uh-sur, -soo r]
- 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.
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Origin of connoisseur
1705–15; < French; Old French conoiseor < Latin cognōscitōr- (stem of cognōscitor) knower. See cognoscible, -tor
Synonyms
See more synonyms for connoisseur on Thesaurus.comcritic, 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 BecomeBlake 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’ IdeasKal Raustiala, Christopher Sprigman
September 8, 2012
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.
The Fte At CoquevilleEmile Zola
I speak as a connoisseur, for faces are a specialty of mine.
The Captain of the Pole-Star and Other TalesArthur Conan Doyle
It was there, and he went on inspecting the legs, with the air of a connoisseur.
The Night RidersRidgwell Cullum
"You are well known as a connoisseur, Mr. Acton," he went on hurriedly.
Masterpieces of MysteryVarious
Willems was a connoisseur in the drink and an adept at the game.
An Outcast of the IslandsJoseph Conrad
connoisseur
- a person with special knowledge or appreciation of a field, esp in the arts
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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
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Word Origin and History for connoisseur
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper