savoir-vivre
Americannoun
noun
Etymology
Origin of savoir-vivre
1745–55; < French: literally, knowing how to live
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The court had “knowledge of the world” now: it had the fruits of achievement, civilization, savoir-vivre, gossip, fashion, malice, and the broad mind of scandal.
From Literature
Savoir-vivre, sav-wor-vē′vr, n. good breeding: knowledge of polite usages.
From Project Gutenberg
The other end had carried out the rules with rigid savoir-vivre; had accidentally touched and trodden on; had apologised; had had its apologies accepted; had introduced and been introduced; and so had cleared the way to chocolates.
From Project Gutenberg
The city’s contradictory charms, as they are wryly termed, its fabled mix of savoir-vivre and absolute crumminess, remain in good supply.
From New York Times
Ce n'�tait pas qu'elle ne fut aimable, elle �tait gracieuse � la surface, un grand savoir-vivre lui tenant lieu de grace v�ritable.
From Project Gutenberg
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
