coryphée

English

Etymology

From French coryphée, from Latin coryphaeus, from Ancient Greek κορυφαῖος (koruphaios, “leader”), from κορυφή (koruphē, “head”).

Noun

coryphée (plural coryphées)

1. A ballet dancer ranking above a member of the corps de ballet and below a soloist.
   • 1982, TC Boyle, Water Music, Penguin 2006, p. 305:

     The sick throw away their crutches and dance like coryphées, the enfeebled strain to lift logs and boulders […].