intrigante
Definition
Noun:
- A scheming woman: "intrigante" refers to a woman who is involved in secret plots or schemes, especially one who uses cunning or manipulation to gain influence or achieve her goals.
Usage Examples
- (A scheming woman who plots secretly.)
- (A woman habitually engaged in underhanded schemes.)
Advanced Usage
- Historical context: The term is often used in literary or historical contexts to describe a female character who operates behind the scenes, using intrigue rather than overt power.
- The intrigante in the play orchestrated the downfall of her rivals through whispered secrets. (A woman who uses secret plots to harm others.)
Variants and Related Words
- Intrigue (n): the practice of secret plotting or scheming.
- The court was full of political intrigue. (Secret schemes and manipulations.)
- Intriguer (n): a person who engages in intrigue (can be male or female).
- He was a master intriguer, always pulling strings from the shadows. (A person skilled in secret plots.)
Synonyms
- Schemer: a person who devises secret or underhanded plans.
- Plottress: a female plotter (archaic or literary term).
- Machinator: one who schemes or plots.
Related Idioms
- Pull the strings: to control events or people secretly.
- The intrigante was the one pulling the strings behind the political scandal. (She was secretly controlling the situation.)
Notes on Usage
- The word "intrigante" is relatively rare in modern English and is most often encountered in historical fiction, drama, or discussions of literature. It carries a negative connotation, implying deceit and ambition. The masculine equivalent is "intriguer," though "intrigante" is specifically feminine.