chef-d'œuvre

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English[edit]

Noun[edit]

chef-d'œuvre (plural chefs-d'œuvre)

  1. Alternative form of chef d'œuvre
    • 1807, [Germaine] de Staël Holstein, translated by D[ennis] Lawler, “[Book IV. Rome.] Chap[ter] V.”, in Corinna; or, Italy. [], volume I, London: [] Corri, []; and sold by Colburn, [], and Mackenzie, [], →OCLC, pages 217–218:
      It was there that the Romans exposed their chefs-d’œuvre of painting and of sculpture.
    • 1837, L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], “The Truth of Presentiments”, in Ethel Churchill: Or, The Two Brides. [], volume II, London: Henry Colburn, [], →OCLC, page 307:
      I shall have a bottle of the old Burgundy, and tell Chloe he must exert himself to send me up some slight chef-d'œuvre for supper: I am sure that one needs something, after so much annoyance!

French[edit]

Pronunciation[edit]

Noun[edit]

chef-d’œuvre m (plural chefs-d’œuvre)

  1. the chief example of a body of work, a masterpiece

Descendants[edit]

  • Indonesian: adikarya (calque)
  • Italian: capodopera (calque)

Further reading[edit]