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Brewer's: Parvenu'

(French). An upstart; one who has risen from the ranks. Source: Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, E. Cobham Brewer, 1894ParvisParty Spirit A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q…

Marivaux, Pierre Carlet de Chamblain de

(Encyclopedia) Marivaux, Pierre Carlet de Chamblain deMarivaux, Pierre Carlet de Chamblain depyĕrˈ kärlāˈ də shäNblēˈ də märēvōˈ [key], 1688–1763, French dramatist and novelist. He enjoyed popularity…

Brewer's: Party Spirit

The animus or feeling of a party man. Source: Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, E. Cobham Brewer, 1894Parvenu'Party A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y…

Brewer's: Parvis

(London). The “place” or court before the main entrance of a cathedral. In the parvis of St. Paul's lawyers used to meet for consultation, as brokers do in exchange. The word is now…

Amy Lowell: An Opera House

An Opera HouseWithin the gold square of the proscenium arch, A curtain of orange velvet hangs in stiff folds, Its tassels jarring slightly when someone crosses the stage behind. Gold carving…

Brewer's: Stuck-up People

Pretentious people, parvenu, nobodies who assume to be somebodies. The allusion is to birds, as the peacock, which sticks up its train to add to its “importance” and “awe down” antagonists…

Molière, Jean Baptiste Poquelin

(Encyclopedia) Molière, Jean Baptiste PoquelinMolière, Jean Baptiste PoquelinzhäN bätēstˈ pôklăNˈ môlyĕrˈ, 1622–73, French playwright and actor, b. Paris; son of a merchant who was upholsterer to the…