— belletrist /bel le"trist/ , n. — belletristic /bel'li tris"tik/ , adj.
Fr. /bel le"trddeu/ , n.pl.
1. literature regarded as a fine art, esp. as having a purely aesthetic function.
2. light and elegant literature, esp. that which is excessively refined, characterized by aestheticism, and minor in subject, substance, or scope.
[ 1700-10; 1 ]
Syn. 1. See literature .