fin de siècle

[ fanduh-sye-kluh ]

noun

the end of the 19th century.

adjective

Sometimes fin-de-siècle . of, relating to, or characterized by concepts of art, society, etc., associated with the end of the 19th century.

Origin of fin de siècle

First recorded in 1885–95; from French: “end of century”; cf. fine¹, de, secular

Words Nearby fin de siècle

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use fin de siècle in a sentence

But, take it all in all, it's safer and more in keeping with fin de siecle rules and regulations.
The Woman Beautiful | Helen Follett Stevans
The search, of course, was delayed and confused by that furious and debasing fin de siecle demand for happiness at all cost.
The Secret Life | Elizabeth Bisland

British Dictionary definitions for fin de siècle

fin de siècle

/ French (fɛ̃ də sjɛklə) /

noun

the end of the 19th century, when traditional social, moral, and artistic values were in transition

adjectivefin-de-siècle

of or relating to the close of the 19th century
decadent, esp in artistic tastes

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

Cultural definitions for fin de siècle

fin de siècle

[ (fann duh see-ek-luh) ]

The end of the nineteenth century; the phrase is French for “end of the century.” Fin de siècle is particularly used to describe the period's self-conscious artistic movements and a sophisticated despair that became popular at the time. Oscar Wilde is one of the best-known fin-de-siècle figures.

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