Word of the Day

Saturday, May 26, 2007

bon vivant

\bon-vee-VONT\ , noun;

A person with refined and sociable tastes, especially one who enjoys fine food and drink.

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Quotes:

For the unregenerate "peasant" (the term that he often used about his mother, whom he despised) had gone there with the successful glass distributor, shrewd investor, versatile talker, and . . . bon vivant whose motto was "The best is good enough for me."

-- Ted Solotaroff, Truth Comes in Blows

Girard is a bon vivant and intellectual while his son is a pragmatic city financier.

-- Akin Ojumu, "There's little and Lars", The Observer, May 25, 2003

Origin:

Bon vivant comes from French bon, "good" (from Latin bonus) + vivant, present participle of vivre, "to live," from Latin vivere.