raisonneur

[ rez-uh-nur; French re-zaw-nœr ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

, plural rai·son·neurs [rez-, uh, -, nurz, r, e-zaw-, nœr].

a character in a play, novel, or the like who voices the central theme, philosophy, or point of view of the work.

1900–05; < French: literally, one who reasons or argues, equivalent to raisonn ( er ) to reason, argue + -eur -eur

Since I was lugged, even as a sort of raisonneur, into their little drama, I may be pardoned for some curiosity as to development.

The sculptor is a formidable bore, the antique raisonneur of French drama, preaching at every pore every chance he has.

"The result of all this free education," you will be told by a certain type of elderly raisonneur.

April 19, 2024tortuous

[tawr-choo-uhs ]

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