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
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Guests Reba McEntire and her beau, actor Rex Linn, appeared in costume too. Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 31 Oct. 2024 And though Kermit should definitely play Edward, romantic interest to Elinor (and brother-in-law, yes, weird, but also rife for comedy), for Marianne’s beau, Colonel Brandon, getting another human actor would probably be best. Harrison Richlin, IndieWire, 7 Oct. 2024 So, are the country star and her Outer Banks actor beau, 32, cohabitating these days? Jeff Nelson, People.com, 25 Oct. 2024 The star accompanied her beau, Tom Holland, in New York for the launch of his non-alcoholic beer brand Bero, debuting her new color on a date night at Manhattan’s Corner Bar. India Espy-Jones, Essence, 25 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 14 Nov. 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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