doyen
[doi-en, doi-uh n; French dwa-yan]
noun, plural doy·ens [doi-enz, doi-enz; French dwa-yan] /dɔɪˈɛnz, ˈdɔɪ ɛnz; French dwaˈyɛ̃/.
the senior member, as in age, rank, or experience, of a group, class, profession, etc.
Origin of doyen
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Related Words for doyen
head, ruler, chief, commander, director, manager, officer, connoisseur, guru, doctor, authority, genius, scientist, professional, artist, elder, pensioner, senior, professor, administratorExamples from the Web for doyen
Historical Examples of doyen
It was a noble vintage, and the doyen grew eloquent over it.
Despair's Last JourneyDavid Christie Murray
In those days the doyen of the fleet was Captain Samuel Blandford.
A Labrador DoctorWilfred Thomason Grenfell
He was, at the time of his death at the age of eighty years, the doyen of the trade.
Printers' MarksWilliam Roberts
Doyen had scruples; but recommended Fragonard for the naughty business.
FragonardHaldane Macfall
The details of this doyen club will be found in its proper place, p. 99 et seq.
Yachting Vol. 2Various.
doyen
noun
Word Origin for doyen
C17: from French, from Late Latin decānus leader of a group of ten; see dean
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