roue [ruˈeɪ] n. also roué
1.) One devoted to a life of sensual pleasure; a debauchee; a rake (Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary).
Etymology: French roué, past participle. of rouer, to break on the wheel. The name was first given to the profligate companions of the Duke of Orleans (~1720), to suggest that they deserved this punishment.
"The couple were thus revealed to me clearly: both removed their cloaks, and there was 'the Varens,' shining in satin and jewels,—my gifts of course,—and there was her companion in an officer’s uniform; and I knew him for a young roué of a vicomte—a brainless and vicious youth whom I had sometimes met in society, and had never thought of hating because I despised him so absolutely" (Jane Eyre, Charlotte Bronte, 1847).
3 comments:
Aha, you're getting smarter, including the "é" version :p Isn't it ridiculous how I know so many of your published words, while sometimes, the definition is filled with words I need to look up? Works as a reminder that my English still needs improvement, I guess.
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RYC: Once a month is a lot, sounds like torture to me >< Expensive too! My hair wasn't that much longer, only a little bit. I'm trying to grow it out. We'll see how long it takes until I get tired of it. Always been a short hair kinda girl.
Finally, a word I know! But I didn't know the etymology of it -- interesting!
my colleague and I did not know about this one
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