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belles-lettres
belles-lettres [from the French for literature, literally "fine letters" ], literature that is appreciated for the beauty, artistry, and originality of its style and tone rather than for its ideas and informational content. Earlier the term was synonymous with literature, referring particularly to fiction, poetry, drama, criticism, and essays. However, belletristic literature has come to mean light, artificial writing and essays extolling the beauties of literature. |
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"belles-lettres." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. 31 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "belles-lettres." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. (May 31, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-bellesle.html "belles-lettres." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Retrieved May 31, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-bellesle.html |
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belles-lettres
belles-let·tres / ˌbel ˈletrə/ • pl. n. [also treated as sing.] 1. essays, particularly of literary and artistic criticism, written and read primarily for their aesthetic effect. 2. literature considered as a fine art. DERIVATIVES: bel·let·rism / belˈletrizəm/ n. bel·let·rist / belˈletrist/ n. bel·let·ris·tic / ˌbeləˈtristik/ adj. |
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"belles-lettres." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 31 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "belles-lettres." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. (May 31, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-belleslettres.html "belles-lettres." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Retrieved May 31, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-belleslettres.html |
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belles-lettres
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T. F. HOAD. "belles-lettres." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 31 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. T. F. HOAD. "belles-lettres." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (May 31, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-belleslettres.html T. F. HOAD. "belles-lettres." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Retrieved May 31, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-belleslettres.html |
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belles-lettres
belles-lettres
•jarrah, para, Tara
•abracadabra, Aldabra
•Alhambra • Vanbrugh
•Cassandra, Sandra
•Aphra, Biafra
•Niagara, pellagra, Viagra
•bhangra, Ingres
•Capra • Cleopatra
•mantra, tantra, yantra
•Basra
•Asmara, Bukhara, carbonara, Carrara, cascara, Connemara, Damara, Ferrara, Gemara, Guadalajara, Guevara, Honiara, Lara, marinara, mascara, Nara, Sahara, Samara, samsara, samskara, shikara, Tamara, tiara, Varah, Zara
•candelabra, macabre, sabra
•Alexandra • Agra • fiacre
•Chartres, Montmartre, Sartre, Sinatra, Sumatra
•Shastra • Maharashtra • Le Havre
•gurdwara
•Berra, error, Ferrer, sierra, terror
•zebra • ephedra • Porto Alegre
•belles-lettres, Petra, raison d'être, tetra
•Electra, plectra, spectra
•Clytemnestra • extra
•chèvre, Sèvres
•Ezra
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Cite this article
"belles-lettres." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. 31 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "belles-lettres." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. (May 31, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-belleslettres.html "belles-lettres." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Retrieved May 31, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-belleslettres.html |
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