roué
Definition
Noun: A roué is a dissolute and debauched man, especially one who is elderly and wealthy. The term denotes a person who leads a life of immoral pleasure, often in a sophisticated or cynical manner.
Usage Examples
- (A wealthy, immoral man who indulges in pleasures.)
- (A dissolute man with a reputation for debauchery.)
Advanced Usage
- "An aging roué": a specific phrase emphasizing the advanced age of a debauched man.
- The novel features an aging roué who reflects on his wasted youth. (An elderly man whose life has been consumed by pleasure-seeking.)
Variants and Related Words
- Rouerie (noun): the behavior or actions of a roué; debauchery.
- His reputation for rouerie made him unwelcome in polite society. (His dissolute conduct.)
Synonyms
- Debauchee: a person who indulges excessively in sensual pleasures.
- Libertine: a person, especially a man, who behaves without moral principles, especially in sexual matters.
- Rake: a man who is immoral and devoted to pleasure, often in a charming way.
Related Idioms
- "To live like a roué": to adopt a lifestyle of excessive pleasure and immorality.
- After inheriting the fortune, he began to live like a roué, squandering money on parties and mistresses. (To engage in a dissolute, pleasure-seeking life.)
Etymology (for context)
The word roué comes from French, meaning "one broken on the wheel" (a historical form of execution). It was originally used in the 18th century to describe the debauched companions of the French regent, the Duke of Orléans, who joked that they deserved such punishment.