picaresque Hear it!

picaresque definition

pica·resque (pik′ə resk′)

adjective

  1. of, like, or having to do with sharp-witted vagabonds or rogues
  2. designating or characteristic of a kind of fiction that originated in Spain and deals episodically with the adventures of a hero who is or resembles such a vagabond or rogue

Etymology: Sp picaresco < pícaro, rascal, orig. knavish, vile

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Comments
Improve this definition.
Do you have more to add? Share your linguistic knowledge or observation.
/Register to save your comments.