demi-monde

See also: demimonde

English

Noun

demi-monde (plural demi-mondes)

  1. Alternative form of demimonde
    • 1867, W[illiam] Blanchard Jerrod, “Society under the Second Empire”, in On the Boulevards; or Memorable Men and Things Drawn on the Spot, 1853–1866. […], volume II, Philadelphia, Pa.: J. B. Lippincott & Co.; London: W[illiam] H[oughton] Allen & Co., […], OCLC 16624494, page 14:
      Paris society borrows fashions from the demi-monde, and the demi-monde borrows manners from the extravagant princesses, countesses, and viscountesses. All Parie has been stirred with the Sardanapalian entertainment, which a leader of the demi-monde gave on the eve of Lent to the best male society in the Empire. The ladies were all unquestionably from young [Alexandre] Dumas' panier à quinze sous; but their manners and their toilettes were, we are told, all that could be desired.

French

Etymology

demi- +‎ monde, probably after a play by French author and playwright Alexandre Dumas fils.[1]

Pronunciation
  • IPA(key): /də.mi.mɔ̃d/

Noun

demi-monde m (plural demi-mondes)

  1. demimonde

Derived terms

Descendants

Further reading

References
  1. Alexandre Dumas (1855) Le Demi Monde : Comédie en 5 Actes, en Prose‎ (in French), Paris: M. Lévy, OCLC 762681928
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