roué
noun
Did you know?
Roué originated as a French word and gained momentum when it began to be used in reference to the libertine companions of Philippe II, France's regent from 1715-1723. Roué means "broken on the wheel" in French and ultimately derives from Latin rota, meaning "wheel." Since the wheel being referred to was an instrument of punishment, the French were implying that such dissolute beings deserved this punishment. By the end of the 18th century, English-speakers added roué to its list of synonyms for a rake, libertine, debaucher, lecher, etc.
Example Sentences
Peter Marks, Washington Post, 22 Jan. 2020 In the film, Jennifer Jones played the heroine, in her maid’s cap and apron, and French actor Charles Boyer was Adam Belinski, the refugee Czech intellectual roue, on the Hollywood assumption that one European accent is as good as another. New York Times, 12 Apr. 2018 Word History
French, literally, broken on the wheel, from past participle of rouer to break on the wheel, from Medieval Latin rotare, from Latin, to rotate; from the feeling that such a person deserves this punishment
1781, in the meaning defined above
roués
noun
Synonyms & Similar Words
- rakes
- libertines
- playboys
- epicures
- bon vivants
- bons vivants
- gluttons
- playgirls
- gourmands
- sybarites
- voluptuaries
- sensualists
- debauchees
- hedonists
- decadents
- Epicureans
- Cyrenaics
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- ascetics
- wet blankets
- spoilsports
- killjoys
- straight arrows
- prudes
- fuddy-duddies