roué

[ roo-ey, roo-ey ]

noun

1. a dissolute and licentious man; rake.

   Synonyms: rakehell, bounder, cad, lecher, libertine, profligate

roué

/ ˈruːeɪ /

noun

1. a debauched or lecherous man; rake

Word History and Origins

Origin of roué¹

1790–1800; < French, noun use of past participle of rouer to break on the wheel (derivative of roue wheel ≪ Latin rota ); name first applied to the profligate companions of the Duc d'Orléans (c1720)

Word History and Origins

Origin of roué¹

C19: from French, literally: one broken on the wheel, from rouer , from Latin rotāre to revolve, from rota a wheel; with reference to the fate deserved by a debauchee

Example Sentences

I should shut my doors against her but for the sake of her nephew le roué, who is really a pretty young man.

From Project Gutenberg

But the old roué, who hopes to get possession of the fortune in a surer way, refuses, and their conversation turns into a quarrel.

From Project Gutenberg

I turned, and recognised in the somewhat roué-looking young man behind me Clarence Fairfax.

From Project Gutenberg

She seemed indifferent to the fate of this tender bud left at the mercy of one whom she affected to regard as a seasoned roué.

From Project Gutenberg

And yet she liked the noble old roué—liked him so infinitely better than she did Mr. Moss.

From Project Gutenberg