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doyen


doy·en

noun
\ˈdi-ən, -ˌ(y)en; ˈdwä-ˌyaⁿ(n)\

Definition of DOYEN

1
a : the senior member of a body or group b : a person considered to be knowledgeable or uniquely skilled as a result of long experience in some field of endeavor
2
: the oldest example of a category

Examples of DOYEN

  1. He is considered the doyen of political journalists.
  2. <considered the doyen of American art critics>

Origin of DOYEN

French, from Old French deien, from Late Latin decanus dean — more at dean
First Known Use: 1670

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