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belletrist

 - 3 dictionary results

belles-let⋅tres

  [Fr. bel-le-truh ]
Use belletrist in a Sentence
–plural noun
1. literature regarded as a fine art, esp. as having a purely aesthetic function.
2. light and elegant literature, esp. that which is excessively refined, characterized by aestheticism, and minor in subject, substance, or scope.
Origin:
1700–10; < F: lit., fine letters. See belle, letter 1

Related forms:
bel⋅let⋅rist  [bel-le-trist] , noun
bel⋅let⋅ris⋅tic  [bel-li-tris-tik] , adjective

Synonyms:
1. See literature.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To belletrist
bel·let·rist   (běl-lět'rĭst)   
n.  A writer of belles-lettres.
bel·let'rism n., bel'le·tris'tic (běl'ĭ-trĭs'tĭk) adj.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

belles-lettres 
"elegant literature, aesthetics," 1710, from Fr., lit. "fine letters," from belles, pl. of belle, fem. of beau "fine, beautiful" + lettres, pl. of lettre "letter."
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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