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beau geste. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
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English
Etymology
Borrowed from French beau geste (literally “beautiful gesture”).
Noun
beau geste (plural beaux gestes or beau gestes)
- A gracious gesture, noble in form but often futile or meaningless in substance.
1920, “The Zionist Congresses”, in G. W. Prothero, editor, Zionism:Chamberlain's offer was enthusiastically welcomed by a section of the Zionists and by all with gratitude. It was a beau geste on the part of the Government, and a recognition that Herzl and his following were regarded seriously in serious quarters.
1982, Jean Baer, “The Jewish Elite Way of Life”, in The Self-Chosen: “Our Crowd” Is Dead, Long Live Our Crowd, New York, N.Y.: Arbor House, →ISBN, part 2 (Who’s Who), page 336:Real estate ventures provide opportunities for beau gestes that result in comfort and convenience.
1988, William Manchester, The Last Lion, volume 2, page 635:In a magnificent beau geste, the destroyer, hopelessly trapped, turned as if to flee, threw out a smoke screen, and when the charged into it, rammed her at flank speed
Translations
References
Indonesian
Etymology
Unadapted borrowing from French beau geste (“beau geste”)
Noun
beau geste (plural beau-beau geste)
- beau geste: gracious gesture, noble in form but often futile or meaningless in substance
Further reading