Belles-lettres Definition

bĕl-lĕtrə
noun
Literature regarded for its aesthetic value rather than its didactic or informative content.
American Heritage
Imaginative writings as distinguished from technical and scientific writings, esp. when characterized by a polished, highly literary style and, often, a somewhat dilettantish manner.
Webster's New World
Light, stylish writings, usually on literary or intellectual subjects.
American Heritage
Essays written in a polished, literary style.
Webster's New World

Literary works valued more for their aesthetic qualities than for any informative or educational content.

Wiktionary
Synonyms:

Origin of Belles-lettres

  • French belles fine lettres letters, literature

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

  • Borrowing from French

    From Wiktionary

Belles-lettres Sentence Examples

  • In belles lettres he showed himself throughout, both in matter and form, the pupil and admirer of Lucilius, after whom he wrote satires..

  • He was made doctor of letters, chevalier of the Legion of Honour, professor of archaeology at the Bibliotheque Imperiale, member of the Academie des Inscriptions et Belles-Lettres and perpetual secretary of the Academie des Beaux-Arts.

  • In the department of belles-lettres he wrote a good deal under such pseudonyms as Christian Deutsch, Gottfried Flammberg and Sigmund Sturm.

  • Altogether a remarkable revival of belles-lettres has taken place in Sweden after a long period of inertness and conventionality.

  • In 1835 Longfellow was chosen to succeed George Ticknor as professor of modern languages and belles-lettres in Harvard.

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Words Starting With

BBEBEL

Words Ending With

SESRES

Unscrambles

belles-lettres

Words Starting With B and Ending With S

Starts With B & Ends With SStarts With BE & Ends With SStarts With B & Ends With ES

Word Length

14 Letter Words14 Letter Words Starting With B14 Letter Words Ending With S