Make Your Point > Archived Issues > BEAU MONDE
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pronounce
BEAU MONDE:
Say it "bo MOND."
To hear it, click here.
connect this word to others:
In Latin, mundus means "world or universe."
Mundus gave us terms like beau monde ("beautiful world"); demi-monde ("half-world, or the world of disreputable people"); mund___ ("worldly, not heavenly, not exciting"); and a____ mund_ ("the soul of the world: a spirit that seems to unite all living things").
Could you recall those last two terms?
(To reveal any word with blanks, give it a click.)
definition:
"Beau monde" is French for "fine world."
Since about 1712, we've used this term in English to mean "the world of fashionable society."
In other words, the beau monde is either the group of people who live fancy, luxurious lives in some city or region, or it's their whole scene, society, or lifestyle.
grammatical bits:
Part of speech:
Noun, the uncountable kind: "She doesn't fit in with the beau monde;" "He grew up in the beau monde of Paris."
Other forms:
Sometimes you'll see it hyphenated (beau-monde) or italicized to emphasize its foreignness (beau monde).
how to use it:
"Beau monde" is a rare, lofty, snobby-sounding term that's perfect for labeling any ritzy or hoity-toity society.
When you use this term, your tone might be anything from wistful and admiring ("We watch Buy Like a Mega Millionaire to soak in the glamor of the beau monde") to bitter and condemnatory ("Buy Like a Mega Millionaire lays bare the disgusting excesses of the beau monde").
You might talk about the beau monde of some specific area or time period: "the beau monde of Los Angeles," "the beau monde of Manhattan," "the beau monde of turn-of-the-century Paris."
examples:
"In 1934 she married into the Hashemite royal family and was whisked away on the international circuit of the beau monde."
— G. G.-H., The Economist, 14 June 2017
"Gilded rose quartz coasters, about $300. Hand-painted salt and pepper set, about $270. Silicone crystal-design clutch, about $4,000... The products at Cabana may be for the beau monde."
— David Netto, The New York Times Style Magazine, 24 July 2014
has this page helped you understand "beau monde"?
study it:
Explain the meaning of "beau monde" without saying "high society" or "the upper crust."
try it out:
Confession: I have no interest in the beau monde. I like comfy jeans and Velveeta melted in the microwave. I wouldn't want to wear high heels for even a day.
Would you enjoy life in the beau monde? Maybe for just a day or two? Why or why not?
before you review, play:
Try to spend 20 seconds or more on the game below. Don’t skip straight to the review—first, let your working memory empty out.
Our game for this month is Obits Tidbits!
Check out a tidbit from the obituary of an extraordinary person, and see if you can name who it was. To see the answer, scroll all the way down.
From the New York Times: "[He] had eight marriages, seven wives, six kids, two bankruptcies, a larceny arrest, a quintuple bypass surgery, a case of lung cancer — and one of the most successful talk shows of the past 40 years."
If you need some hints, highlight the hidden white text below.
This obituary was published on… December 24th, 2021
This person's initials are… L. K.
review this word:
A. HOI POLLOI (the class of regular, common, everyday people).
B. NUIT BLANCHE (a "white night," or a night spent entirely awake, whether joyfully or dreadfully).
C. VOX POPULI (popular opinion: what many people want, think, or believe when it comes to any particular topic).
2.
You're likely to see a word like _____ before "beau monde."
A. "wily" or "cunning"
B. "tortured" or "depraved"
C. "glittering" or "glamorous"
a final word:
I hope you're enjoying Make Your Point. It's made with love. I'm Liesl Johnson, a reading and writing tutor on a mission to explore, illuminate, and celebrate words.
From my blog:
On vocabulary...
36 ways to study words.
Why we forget words, & how to remember them.
How to use sophisticated words without being awkward.
On writing...
How to improve any sentence.
How to motivate our kids to write.
How to stop procrastinating and start writing.
How to bulk up your writing when you have to meet a word count.
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A disclaimer: When I write definitions, I use plain language and stick to the words' common, useful applications. If you're interested in authoritative and multiple definitions of words, I encourage you to check a dictionary. Also, because I'm American, I stick to American English when I share words' meanings, usage, and pronunciations; these elements sometimes vary across world Englishes.
In Latin, mundus means "world or universe."
"Beau monde" is French for "fine world."
Part of speech:
"Beau monde" is a rare, lofty, snobby-sounding term that's perfect for labeling any ritzy or hoity-toity society.
"In 1934 she married into the Hashemite royal family and was whisked away on the international circuit of the beau monde."
Explain the meaning of "beau monde" without saying "high society" or "the upper crust."
Confession: I have no interest in the beau monde. I like comfy jeans and Velveeta melted in the microwave. I wouldn't want to wear high heels for even a day.
Try to spend 20 seconds or more on the game below. Don’t skip straight to the review—first, let your working memory empty out.
I hope you're enjoying Make Your Point. It's made with love. I'm Liesl Johnson, a reading and writing tutor on a mission to explore, illuminate, and celebrate words. |