bel esprit

noun

bel es·​prit

ˌbe-ˌle-ˈsprē,

ˌbe-lə-

plural beaux esprits

ˌbō-ˌze-ˈsprē,

ˌbō-zə-

: a person with a fine and gifted mind

as a bel esprit she despised pedantry whether in a man or in a bluestocking

—Robert Halsband

Word History

Etymology

French, literally, fine mind

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