beau

noun

plural beaux ˈbōz How to pronounce beau (audio) or beaus

Examples of beau in a Sentence

Her beaux between marriage generally fell into two categories: ineffectual pretty boys or handsome brutes. Joanne Kaufman, People, 21 Mar. 1988
This was essentially the vehicle that had been perfected, through more than a century or two, for—and by—a continuing line of fops, beaux, macaronis, dudes, bucks, blades, swells, bloods and mashers. Osbert Sitwell, The Scarlet Tree, 1975
She introduced us to her latest beau. her new beau brought flowers when he picked her up for their first date
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Currently in domestic bliss with longtime beau A$AP Rocky and their two sons, RZA, 2, and Riot, 1, Riri has popped back into music for two major moments since the turn of the decade. Kyle Denis, Billboard, 19 Nov. 2024 Megan Fox is pregnant and expecting a very emo baby with her on-and-off beau Machine Gun Kelly (or, sorry, mgk). Justin Curto, Vulture, 11 Nov. 2024 The female fan had dressed up as Taylor's beau Travis Kelce for the concert in Indianapolis this weekend—complete with a helmet. Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024 Another wall painting likely depicts the goddess Venus with her beau Adonis, according to the park. Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 28 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for beau 

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from French, from beau, bel (masculine), belle (feminine) "beautiful, good-looking," going back to Old French bel, going back to Latin bellus, probably going back (via *duellos, assimilated from *duenlos) to *dwenelos, diminutive of *dwe-nos "good" (whence Old Latin duenos, Latin bonus) — more at bounty

First Known Use

1653, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of beau was in 1653

Dictionary Entries Near beau

Cite this Entry

“Beau.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/beau. Accessed 2 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

beau

noun
plural beaux ˈbōz How to pronounce beau (audio) or beaus
ˈbōz
Etymology

from French beau "boyfriend," from beau (adjective) "fine, beautiful," derived from Latin bellus "pretty" — related to beauty, belle

More from Merriam-Webster on beau

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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