précieuse
[ prey-see-oo z; French prey-syœz ]
/ ˌpreɪ siˈʊz; French preɪˈsyœz /
noun, plural pré·cieus·es [prey-see-oo z-iz; French prey-syœz] /ˌpreɪ siˈʊz ɪz; French preɪˈsyœz/.
one of the 17th-century literary women of France who affected an extreme care in the use of language.
an affected or pretentious woman, especially one marked by preciosity in manner or speech.
adjective
(of a woman) marked by affectation or preciosity.
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Origin of précieuse
1720–30; < French; feminine of précieux; see -euse
Words nearby précieuse
prypyat', prytaneum, prythee, przemyśl, przewalski's horse, précieuse, précieux, précis, préval, prévenance, prévert
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020
Example sentences from the Web for precieuse
There was Ninon; and there was Madame de Rambouillet; the one galante, the other precieuse.
The Romance of Biography (Vol 2 of 2)|Anna JamesonTo be a precieuse was in itself an evidence of good conduct.
The Women of the French Salons|Amelia Gere MasonWe find here the code which ruled the Hotel de Rambouillet, and the very well-defined character of the precieuse.
The Women of the French Salons|Amelia Gere Mason