belles-lettres
/'bel'letr/
Definition
- Noun:
- Literature regarded for its aesthetic value rather than its informative or instructional content: "Belles-lettres" refers to a category of writing that is appreciated primarily for its artistic and literary qualities, such as style, elegance, and beauty of form. It often includes essays, poetry, and criticism that emphasize literary artistry over practical purpose.
Examples of Usage
- Noun:
- Her academic focus shifted from technical manuals to the study of belles-lettres.
- The professor's course on French belles-lettres explores the stylistic elegance of 18th-century essays.
Advanced Usage
- As a field of study: The term is often used to denote a specific academic or critical focus on literary artistry.
- He contributed significantly to the scholarship of Victorian belles-lettres.
Variants and Related Words
- Belletristic (adj): Pertaining to or characteristic of belles-lettres; having a literary or elegant style.
- The author's belletristic essays were widely admired for their refined prose.
Synonyms
- Literary arts: Creative writing focused on aesthetic expression.
- Polite literature: An older, near-synonymous term for elegant or refined writing.
Notes on Usage
- The term "belles-lettres" is a plural noun (treating it as singular is uncommon). It is typically used with a singular verb when referring to the field or category as a whole.
- It is a loanword from French, literally meaning "fine letters" or "beautiful writings." Its use in English often carries a connotation of sophisticated, non-utilitarian literary work.
Noun
-
creative writing valued for esthetic content
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