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roman à clef love

roman à clef

Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun A novel in which actual persons, places, or events are depicted in fictional guise.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun a piece of fiction, especially a novel, containing real-life people and/or events

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[French : roman, novel + à, with + clef, key.]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

French roman à clef ("novel with a key")

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  • TankHughes commented on the word roman à clef

    Wall Street Journal (May 27, 2011) "As Slang Changes More Rapidly, Expert Has to Watch His Language"
    http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748704281504576331494075796656

    "Mr. Dalzell became a slang expert by accident. In his twenties, he studied law at the United Farm Workers union through an old-school apprenticeship under union lawyer Jerry Cohen. Mr. Dalzell was captivated by his boss's quirky charisma and decided to write a roman à clef based on their work together."

    October 7, 2015