roi fainéant

noun

roi fai·​né·​ant

rə¦wäˌfā(ˌ)nāˈäⁿ,

¦rw-

plural rois fainéants

"

: a do-nothing king

especially : one who has delegated or lost his royal power while still reigning

Word History

Etymology

French, faineant king

First Known Use

1777, in the meaning defined above

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