belles-lettres

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In a single department of belles-lettres he had shown mastery.

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Definitions (5)

Toggle American Heritage definitions American Heritage Dictionary (2)

  1. plural noun Literature regarded for its aesthetic value rather than its didactic or informative content.
  2. plural noun Light, stylish writings, usually on literary or intellectual subjects.

Toggle Century definitions Century Dictionary (1)

Toggle GNU Webster definitions GNU Webster's 1913 (1)

Toggle WordNet definitions WordNet (1)

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Examples (50)

 

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This word has been looked up 100 times.

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Etymologies (2)

Toggle American Heritage etymologies American Heritage Dictionary (1)

  1. French : belles, fine + lettres, letters, literature.

Toggle Century etymologies Century Dictionary (1)

  1. French, literally ‘fine letters’ (like beaux-arts, fine arts): belle, fine, beautiful; lettre, letter, plural lettres, literature: see belle and letter.
 

Pronunciations
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/ˈbɛlˈlɛtr/
by American Heritage

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