Sieyès

American  

[sye-yes] / syɛˈyɛs /

noun

1. Emmanuel Joseph Abbé Sieyès, 1748–1836, French priest and revolutionist.

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Sieyès British  

/ sjejɛs /

noun

1. Emmanuel Joseph (ɛmanɥɛl ʒozɛf), called Abbé Sieyès. 1748–1836, French statesman, political theorist, and churchman, who became prominent during the Revolution following the publication of his pamphlet Qu'est-ce que le tiers état? (1789). He was instrumental in bringing Napoleon I to power (1799)

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Example Sentences

Then he posted the opening lines of “What Is the Third Estate?” a tract published by the Abbé Sieyès in January 1789, that took up the cause of the common classes: “We have three questions before us. One — What is the Third Estate? EVERYTHING. Two — What has it been until now in the political order? NOTHING. Three — What is it asking for? TO BE SOMETHING.”

From New York Times

With the Abbe Sieyès, Talleyrand and Napoleon organized the overthrow of the Directory on Nov. 9, 1799 — the 18th Brumaire, as it was called by the revolutionary calendar.

From Washington Post

The French revolutionists, though rejecting the proposal of Siéyès and Condorcet to accord political emancipation to women, established at least an equal succession of sons and daughters, and thus initiated a great reformation of both law and opinion, which sooner or later must traverse the world.

From Project Gutenberg

Many, like Sieyès formerly, will vote “la mort et sans phrase,” but we shall read of unctuous motives alleged by the volunteers for their votes.

From Project Gutenberg

He says of the fourth estate what Sieyès said of the third, What is the fourth estate?

From Project Gutenberg