bel esprit
English
Etymology
Borrowed from French bel esprit.
Pronunciation
- (UK) IPA(key): /bɛlɛˈspɹi/
Noun
bel esprit (plural beaux esprits)
- A very witty or clever person.
- 1824, Geoffrey Crayon [pseudonym; Washington Irving], Tales of a Traveller, (please specify |part=1 to 4), Philadelphia, Pa.: H[enry] C[harles] Carey & I[saac] Lea, […], →OCLC:
- a man of letters and a bel esprit
French
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /bɛ.l‿ɛs.pʁi/ ~ /be.l‿ɛs.pʁi/
Noun
bel esprit m (plural beaux esprits)