double entendre [duhb -uh l ahn-tahn -druh , -tahnd ; French n -tahn -dr uh
Word Origin
See more synonyms for double entendre on Thesaurus.com noun, plural dou·ble en·ten·dres [duhb -uh l ahn-tahn -druh z, -tahndz ; French n -tahn -dr uh /ˈdʌb əl ɑnˈtɑn drəz, -ˈtɑndz; French ə / a double meaning. a word or expression used in a given context so that it can be understood in two ways, especially when one meaning is risqué. Show More
Origin of double entendre From
obsolete French, dating back to
1665–75; see origin at
double ,
intend Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
British Dictionary definitions for double entendre a word, phrase, etc, that can be interpreted in two ways, esp one having one meaning that is indelicate the type of humour that depends upon such ambiguity Show More
Word Origin for double entendre C17: from obsolete French: double meaning
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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Word Origin and History for double entendre also double-entendre , 1670s, from French (where it was rare and is now obsolete), literally "a twofold meaning," from entendre (now entente ) "to hear, to understand, to mean." The proper Modern French phrase would be double entente , but the phrase has become established in English in its old form.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
