bel esprit

English

Etymology

Borrowed from French bel esprit.

Pronunciation

(UK) IPA^(key): /bɛlɛˈspɹi/

Noun

bel esprit (plural beaux esprits)

A very witty or clever person.
- 1824, Geoffrey Crayon [pseudonym; Washington Irving], Tales of a Traveller, (please specify |part=1 to 4), Philadelphia, Pa.: H[enry] C[harles] Carey & I[saac] Lea, […], →OCLC:
  a man of letters and a bel esprit

French

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /bɛ.l‿ɛs.pʁi/, /be.l‿ɛs.pʁi/

Noun

bel esprit m (plural beaux esprits)

wit, genius, bel esprit

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