recherché
[ruh-shair-shey, ruh-shair-shey; French ruh-sher-shey]
- sought out with care.
- very rare, exotic, or choice; arcane; obscure.
- of studied refinement or elegance; precious; affected; pretentious.
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Origin of recherché
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Related Words
limitedunusualsingularuncommonoccasionalextraordinarystrangeunlikelysubtlescarceuniqueunthinkablegreatdelicaterichpricelessexquisiteexclusiveselectedpreferredExamples from the Web for recherche
Contemporary Examples
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.
Historical Examples
They were the best we had found any where, and the most 'recherche'.
The Innocents AbroadMark Twain (Samuel Clemens)
I do not know what 'recherche' is, but that is what these donkeys were, anyhow.
The Innocents AbroadMark Twain (Samuel Clemens)
We had now altogether lost sight of the Archipelago of the Recherche.
A Voyage to Terra AustralisMatthew Flinders
I have just returned from a polite and recherche party here.
RemarksBill Nye
Washington is the hot-bed of gayety, and general headquarters for the recherche business.
RemarksBill Nye
recherché
- known only to connoisseurs; choice or rare
- studiedly refined or elegant
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Word Origin
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
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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.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper