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belles-lettres

(Encyclopedia) belles-lettresbelles-lettresbĕl-lĕˈtrə [key] [from the French for literature, literally “fine letters”], literature that is appreciated for the beauty, artistry, and originality of its…

lettre de cachet

(Encyclopedia) lettre de cachetlettre de cachetlĕˈtrə də käshāˈ [key], formerly in French law, private, sealed document, issued as a communication from the king. Such a letter could order…

Brewer's: Belles Lettres

Polite literature (French); similarly, Beaux arts, the fine arts. Source: Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, E. Cobham Brewer, 1894BellefontaineBelle A B C D E F G H I J K L M N…

Brewer's: Lettre de Cachet

(French). An arbitrary warrant of imprisonment; a letter folded and sealed with the king's cachet or little seal. These were secret instructions to the person addressed to proceed against…

Brewer's: Lettre de Jerusalem

A letter written to extort money. (See Vidocq: Les Voleurs, i. 240-253.) Source: Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, E. Cobham Brewer, 1894LeucadiaLettre de Cachet A B C D E F G H I…

Brewer's: Jean de Lettre

(Mr. Jenkins). “Qui pour l'ordinaire, dit Tallemant, est un animal mal idoine à toute autre chose.” (Mme. Deshoulières: Historiettes, ix. 209, x. 82.) Source: Dictionary of Phrase and…

Aytoun, William Edmonstoune

(Encyclopedia) Aytoun, William EdmonstouneAytoun, William Edmonstouneāˈt&oomacr;n [key], 1813–65, Scottish poet. He was (1845–64) professor of belles-lettres at Edinburgh Univ. The Bon Gaultier…

Balzac, Jean Louis Guez de

(Encyclopedia) Balzac, Jean Louis Guez deBalzac, Jean Louis Guez dezhäN lwē gā [key]Balzac, Jean Louis Guez de də bälzäkˈ [key], 1597?–1654, French writer. His Lettres (1624, tr. 1634) and other…

Prévost, Marcel

(Encyclopedia) Prévost, MarcelPrévost, Marcelmärsĕlˈ prāvōˈ [key], 1862–1941, French novelist. His novels deal chiefly with feminine questions, portraying severely what Prévost regarded as the moral…

Brewer's: Pied de la Lettre

(Au). Quite literally. “Of course, you will not take everything I have said quite au pied de la lettre.” - Fra. Olloe: A Philosophical Trilogy. Source: Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, E…