Definition

1. Noun:
   • Eyeglasses clipped to the nose: A pair of eyeglasses that have no earpieces (temples) but are held in place by a spring that clips onto the bridge of the nose.

Usage

• The word "pince-nez" is used to refer specifically to this historical style of eyewear. It is typically used in singular form to refer to a single pair, though the plural is also "pince-nez."
• It is often associated with figures from the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Examples

• Noun:
  • The old photograph showed the professor wearing a pince-nez.
  • He adjusted his pince-nez before reading the fine print in the contract.

Advanced Usage

• "A pair of pince-nez": Although "pince-nez" can be used alone, it is sometimes preceded by "a pair of" for clarity.
  • She found a delicate pair of pince-nez in her grandmother's jewelry box.

Variants and Related Words

• Spectacles (n): A more general term for eyeglasses.
• Monocle (n): A single eyeglass for one eye, held in place by the eye socket muscles.
• Lorgnette (n): A pair of eyeglasses or opera glasses with a handle.

Synonyms

• Nose spectacles: A descriptive synonym.
• Clip-on glasses: A modern, functional term, though not historically accurate for the spring-clip design.

Notes

• The term "pince-nez" is borrowed directly from French, where it literally means "pinch-nose," describing how it grips the nose.
• Its usage in modern English is largely historical or descriptive of antique styles.

Noun

1. spectacles clipped to the nose by a spring