belles lettres etymology

Etymology

The word "belles-lettres" comes from the French "belles lettres," meaning "beautiful letters."

Meaning

Belles-lettres refers to a type of literature that is primarily concerned with literary style, form, and aesthetics rather than subject matter. It encompasses works that are highly regarded for their artistic merit, including poetry, drama, fiction, and essays.

Origin

The term "belles-lettres" originated in France in the 17th century. It was first used to describe the works of classical authors, such as Homer, Virgil, and Cicero, which were considered models of literary excellence. Over time, the term came to be applied more broadly to any literature that displayed a high degree of craftsmanship and attention to form.

Examples

Examples of belles-lettres include:

• Poetry by William Shakespeare, Emily Dickinson, and T.S. Eliot
• Novels by Jane Austen, Charles Dickens, and Leo Tolstoy
• Plays by Sophocles, William Shakespeare, and Henrik Ibsen
• Essays by Montaigne, Francis Bacon, and Ralph Waldo Emerson

belles lettres relate terms

• beau

  Etymology The French word beau is derived from the Latin adjective bellus meaning

• belle

  Etymology Old French bele Latin bella Proto Indo European bhel meaning to shine

• letter

  Etymology The word letter originates from the Old French word lettre which is deriv

• lachrymose

  Etymology lachrymose adj Middle English from Old French from Latin lachrymōsus

• letters

  Etymology of Letters The word letter derives from the Old French lettre which itsel

• patent

  Etymology The word patent originates from the Latin term patens meaning open or exp

• belletrist

  Etymology French belletristes Latin bellus beautiful littera letter Meaning

• belles lettres

  Etymology The word belles lettres comes from the French belles lettres meaning beau

• Renaissance

  Etymology The term Renaissance comes from the French word renaissance which means r

• doctor

  Etymology The word doctor derives from the Latin word docēre meaning to teach M

• belle

  Etymology Old French bele Latin bella Proto Indo European bhel meaning to shine

• decorum

  Etymology The word decorum is derived from the Latin word decōrum which means fit

• citizen

  Citizen Etymology Meaning The process of altering the pronunciation or spelling of a wor

• impression

  Etymology The word impression comes from the Latin word impressio which means a mar

• handsome

  Etymology The word handsome originated in the 13th century from the Middle English wor

• risk

  Etymology and Origin The word risk originates from the Old Italian word risco which

• illusion

  Etymology The word illusion derives from the Latin word illudere meaning to mock

• spoil

  Etymology The word spoil comes from the Old French word spolier which means to rob