BELLES-LETTRES


Meaning of BELLES-LETTRES in English

[ bɛl'lɛtr(ə) ]

■ plural noun literary works written and read for their aesthetic effect.

Derivatives

belletrism bɛl'lɛtrɪz(ə)m noun

belletrist noun

belletristic adjective

Origin

C17: from Fr., lit. 'fine letters'.

Concise Oxford English vocab.      Сжатый оксфордский словарь английского языка.