billet doux

Thân thiện

A young woman reads a billet doux with a smile.

Definition

Noun: A short, personal, and often romantic letter, typically expressing affection or love, sent to a beloved person.

Usage

The term "billet doux" is a formal and somewhat old-fashioned or literary word for a love letter. It is used to describe a private, affectionate written message. - She discovered a stack of old billets doux tied with a ribbon in the attic. - He slipped a billet doux into her book before she left.

Advanced Usage

• The phrase is often used to evoke a sense of nostalgia, classic romance, or a bygone era of courtship.
• It can be used humorously or ironically to describe an overly sentimental or florid love note.

Variants and Related Words

• Love letter (n): The direct and more common English equivalent for a billet doux.
• Note (n): A more general term for a short, informal letter, which can be affectionate.
• Missive (n): A formal or literary term for a letter, not necessarily romantic.

Synonyms

• Love letter
• Valentine
• Note of affection

Idioms and Related Phrases

• To send/pass a billet doux: To send a love note, often secretly.
  • The suitor found a way to pass a billet doux to his lady during the ball.

Học thuật

Noun

1. a personal letter to a loved one expressing affection

Từ đồng nghĩa

• love letter