picaresque

picaresque Definition

pica·resque (pik′ə resk′)

adjective

of, like, or having to do with sharp-witted vagabonds or rogues
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

picaresque Synonyms

modif.

roguish, bold, adventurous; see brave 1.

picaresque Usage Examples

Modifies a noun

novel: Her sometime companion, a self-declared Vagabond, is also lovely - seemingly heavily based on the picaresque novels of the time.
adventure: The picaresque adventures of his days in Palestine had given way to a serious spiritual and intellectual quest.
tale: The actions of the characters show that the painting is a thematic representation of a literary motif from a picaresque tale.
story: This is a classic picaresque story with a lot of potential for irony.
life: Under numerous aliases, his picaresque life gathered strength.

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