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definitions

recherché

[ruh-shair-shey, ruh-shair-shey; French ruh-sher-shey]
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SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR recherché ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

sought out with care.
very rare, exotic, or choice; arcane; obscure.
of studied refinement or elegance; precious; affected; pretentious.

Origin of recherché

1715–25; < French, past participle of rechercher to search for carefully; see research
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for recherche

limited, unusual, singular, uncommon, occasional, extraordinary, strange, unlikely, subtle, scarce, unique, unthinkable, great, delicate, rich, priceless, exquisite, exclusive, selected, preferred

Examples from the Web for recherche

Contemporary Examples of recherche

  • I first read A la Recherche du Temps Perdus in the summer I turned 17, and I have to say, it scared the hell out of me.

    The Daily Beast logo
    David's Bookclub: Sodom and Gomorrah

    David Frum

    September 29, 2012

Historical Examples of recherche

  • I do not know what 'recherche' is, but that is what these donkeys were, anyhow.

    The Innocents Abroad

    Mark Twain (Samuel Clemens)

  • They were the best we had found any where, and the most 'recherche'.

    The Innocents Abroad

    Mark Twain (Samuel Clemens)

  • We had now altogether lost sight of the Archipelago of the Recherche.

  • Washington is the hot-bed of gayety, and general headquarters for the recherche business.

    Remarks

    Bill Nye

  • I have just returned from a polite and recherche party here.

    Remarks

    Bill Nye

British Dictionary definitions for recherche

recherché

adjective

known only to connoisseurs; choice or rare
studiedly refined or elegant

Word Origin for recherché

C18: from French: past participle of rechercher to make a thorough search for; see research
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
Word Origin and History for recherche
adj.

1722, from French recherché "carefully sought out," past participle of rechercher "to seek out" (12c.), from re-, here perhaps suggesting repeated activity (see re-) + chercher "to search," from Latin circare, in Late Latin "to wander hither and thither," from circus "circle" (see circus). Commonly used 19c. of food, styles, etc., to denote obscure excellence.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper