fin de siècle

[ fan duh sye-kluh ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

Sometimes fin-de-siècle. of, relating to, or characterized by concepts of art, society, etc., associated with the end of the 19th century.

fin de siècle

/ fɛ̃ də sjɛklə /

the end of the 19th century, when traditional social, moral, and artistic values were in transition

fin de siècle

The end of the nineteenth century; the phrase is French for “end of the century.” Fin de siècle is particularly used to describe the period's self-conscious artistic movements and a sophisticated despair that became popular at the time. Oscar Wilde is one of the best-known fin-de-siècle figures.

First recorded in 1885–95; from French: “end of century”; fine ¹( def ), de ( def ), secular ( def )

He carried with him the insecurities, foibles, and morose visions of fin de siècle Europe.

But the fact is fresh testimony to the fin de siècle character of the work.

And even if such literature failed as largely composes our present fin-de-siècle garbage-heap, we would not regret its absence.

It amuses me vastly to sit in my corner and watch one of these fin-de-siècle diplomatists work out her little problem.

For with Duccio, at any rate, the sense of form was as much traditional as vital: and the great Cimabue is fin de siècle.

It is only the fin de siècle form of the p. 399demnition dialect of the Forties and the La-ard and Lunnon of an earlier age.

April 19, 2024tortuous

[tawr-choo-uhs ]

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