chef-d'œuvre

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English

Noun

chef-d'œuvre (plural chefs-d'œuvre)

  1. Alternative form of chef d'œuvre
    • 1807, [Germaine] de Staël Holstein, translated by D Lawler, “ Chap 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

Pronunciation

Noun

chef-d’œuvre m (plural chefs-d’œuvre)

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

Descendants

Further reading