Rabelaisian

American  

[rab-uh-ley-zee-uhn, -zhuhn] / ˌræb əˈleɪ zi ən, -ʒən /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or suggesting François Rabelais, whose work is characterized by broad, coarse humor and keen satire.

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noun

1. a person who admires or studies the works of Rabelais.

Rabelaisian British  

/ ˌræbəˈleɪzɪən, -ʒən /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or resembling the work of Rabelais, esp by broad, often bawdy humour and sharp satire

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noun

1. a student or admirer of Rabelais

Other Word Forms

• Rabelaisianism
  noun

Etymology

Origin of Rabelaisian

First recorded in 1855–60; Rabelais + -ian

Example Sentences

Experts believe the New Orleans carnival season, an international tourist destination that culminated in the Rabelaisian Mardi Gras on Feb. 25, may have served as a kind of petri dish to spread the virus.

From Washington Times • Mar. 22, 2020

His Falstaff, a Rabelaisian mountain of self-regard and corruption, should be anchored in a potent tale of casting aside foolishness in favor of duty.

From Washington Post • Sep. 10, 2019

“The community of artists that formed here, that generation ... it was Rabelaisian, it was anarchic, almost. And Don was the master of this. His influence was enormous.”

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 5, 2019

It’s a teeming, Rabelaisian sprawl, but from the moment Raskolnikov leaves his garret and sets off towards the Kokushkin Bridge it grabs the reader by the lapels.

From The Guardian • Apr. 28, 2018

Hearing Joshua give Rabelaisian nonstop talks of three to five hours made it all too clear that he was an enfant terrible.

From "Double Helix" by James D. Watson