bel esprit

[ bel es-pree ]

noun,plural beaux es·prits [boh zes-pree]. /boʊ zɛsˈpri/. French.
  1. a person of great wit or intellect: He found this charming bel esprit, not among his university colleagues, but in the person of a young widow on the outskirts of town.

Origin of bel esprit

1
First recorded in 1630–40; French: literally, “fine mind, wittiness”
  • Sometimes bel-es·prit .

Words Nearby bel esprit

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How to use bel esprit in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for bel esprit

bel esprit

/ French (bɛl ɛspri) /


nounplural beaux esprits (boz ɛspri)
  1. a witty or clever person

Origin of bel esprit

1
literally: fine wit

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