soubrette
[ soo-bret ]
/ suˈbrɛt /
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noun
a maidservant or lady's maid in a play, opera, or the like, especially one displaying coquetry, pertness, and a tendency to engage in intrigue.
an actress playing such a role.
any lively or pert young woman.
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Origin of soubrette
1745–55; <French: lady's maid <Provençal soubreto, derivative of soubret affected, ultimately derivative of Old Provençal sobrar<Latin superāre to be above
OTHER WORDS FROM soubrette
sou·bret·tish, adjectiveWords nearby soubrette
SOTU, sou, souari nut, soubise, soubresaut, soubrette, soubriquet, soucar, souchong, Soudan, souffle
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Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
How to use soubrette in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for soubrette
soubrette
/ (suːˈbrɛt) /
noun
a minor female role in comedy, often that of a pert lady's maid
any pert or flirtatious girl
Derived forms of soubrette
soubrettish, adjectiveWord Origin for soubrette
C18: from French: maidservant, from Provençal soubreto, from soubret conceited, from soubra to exceed, from Latin superāre to surmount, from super above
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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