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belles-lettres
[bel-le-t
plural noun
literature regarded as a fine art, especially as having a purely aesthetic function.
light and elegant literature, especially that which is excessively refined, characterized by aestheticism, and minor in subject, substance, or scope.
belles-lettres
/ ɛɛٰə /
noun
(functioning as singular) literary works, esp essays and poetry, valued for their aesthetic rather than their informative or moral content
Other 51Թ Forms
- belletrist noun
- belletristic adjective
51Թ History and Origins
Origin of belles-lettres1
51Թ History and Origins
Origin of belles-lettres1
Synonym Study
Example Sentences
“Both anatomy and belles-lettres are of equally noble descent,” Chekhov once wrote to his publisher, adding that they share “identical goals and an identical enemy—the Devil.”
It's hard to pinpoint exactly what separates a mere commentator from a producer of belles-lettres, but you know it when you read it.
More recently in Carmel there have been a great number of literary men about, but there is not the old flavor, the old dignity of the true belles-lettres.
“It gives voice to every possible articulation of crime and mystery in belles-lettres,” she said.
Dandies, it seems, are dandy; but belles-lettres is better.
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