PRECIOSITY • DICCIONARIO INGLES.COM • Definition of Preciosity

Add this Dictionary
to your website!
See more options...

Listen

noun

Preciosity n. Preciousness; something precious. (Obs.)

Preciosity n. (pl. preciosities) Fastidious refinement, esp. in language; specif., the affected purism and sententiousness characteristic of the French précieuses of the 17th century. "He had the fastidiousness, the preciosity, the love of archaisms, of your true decadent."

See images of 'Preciosity'

Etymology of 'Preciosity'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

Share |

"Preciosity" Quotes from Famous Books

... of the period gives the note of the Revolution on its idealistic side more strikingly than Fabre d'Eglantine's nomenclature of the months for the Revolutionary Calendar. Although slightly tinged with pedantism and preciosity, its freshness, its grace, its inspiration and sincerity, give it a flavour almost of primitive art. It remains one of the few notable ...

— The French Revolution - A Short History • R. M. Johnston

... far in that direction!" cried Denzil, laughing. "True, you don't let your hair grow, and in general make an ass of yourself; but there's a good deal of preciosity about ...

— Denzil Quarrier • George Gissing