picaresque

[ pik-uh-resk ]

adjective

1. pertaining to, characteristic of, or characterized by a form of prose fiction, originally developed in Spain, in which the adventures of an engagingly roguish hero are described in a series of usually humorous or satiric episodes that often depict, in realistic detail, the everyday life of the common people:

   picaresque novel; picaresque hero.

2. of, relating to, or resembling rogues.

   Synonyms: raffish, devilish, rascally, prankish

picaresque

/ ˌpɪkəˈrɛsk /

adjective

1. of or relating to a type of fiction in which the hero, a rogue, goes through a series of episodic adventures. It originated in Spain in the 16th century
2. of or involving rogues or picaroons

Other Words From

• unpic·a·resque adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of picaresque¹

First recorded in 1800–10; from Spanish picaresco; picaro, -esque

Word History and Origins

Origin of picaresque¹

C19: via French from Spanish picaresco, from pícaro a rogue

Example Sentences

That choice fits the comic’s loose, rambling picaresque, where getting too serious too often would harsh what’s compelling about the story, which is a group of characters bonding during the end of the world.

From Vox

Like its groundbreaking predecessor, “Subsequent Moviefilm” is a raunchy, sharply political picaresque through the American heartland.

From Washington Post

That said, Waters has come a long way since the picaresque adventures of Nan and Kitty.

From The Daily Beast

The picaresque escapades and legendary extravagances of the brothers are indulged with a collective wink.

From The Daily Beast

They appear in alternate performances in a wonderfully picaresque Waiting for Godot.

From The Daily Beast

Adam and Evelyn A romantic picaresque tale against the backdrop of a divided Germany.

From The Daily Beast

Then there were some of the writers of the picaresque novels.

From Project Gutenberg

Even regarded as an early attempt in the "picaresque" manner, it is abortive and only half organised.

From Project Gutenberg

The tone of the Spanish and French picaresque novel had never been high: but it is curiously degraded in this English example.

From Project Gutenberg

It belongs to that class of novel known as picaresque—romances of adventures and battles.

From Project Gutenberg

A picaresque novel is only a very eventful biography; but the opening of Bleak House is quite another business altogether.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• anecdotal
• disjointed