retroussé
/ˌɹɛtɹuˈseɪ/
Word Rarity
Very rare
Frequency: Zipf frequency 0.00 in modern English
8
Scrabble Score
9
Letters
3
Syllables
7
Unique Chars
Meaning
adj
Turned up, especially when describing the nose.
Example Sentences
- "[...] Roxelane [...] would never have been espoused by the Sultan [Suleiman the Magnificent] had not her nose been retroussé, thus[…]. / It may be noted that to this day a retroussé nose is known in France as a nose a la Roxelane."
- ""A tight little craft," was Austin's invariable comment on the matron;[…]. Near her wandered her husband, orientally bland, invariably affable, and from time to time squinting sideways, as usual, in the ever-renewed expectation that he might catch a glimpse of his stiff, retroussé moustache."
- "You know, a touch of character – slightly retroussé nose, big mouth, perhaps a couple of freckles."
- "Luminous silver gray eyes outlined in sooty lashes; a pert retroussé nose and faintly carmine tinted lips, slightly full, finished the oval face."
- "She shares with this woman the same retroussé nose and half-moon eyes, the same asymmetrical smile."
- "I would simply waffle about her small, almost perfectly upswept, retroussé nose, and you'd consider me insane, and put me back."
Etymology
Etymology tree Proto-Italic *wre- Latin re- French re- French trousser French retroussébor. English retroussé From French retroussé, past participle of retrousser (“to hitch up, hike up”), from re- (from Latin re- (“back, backwards; again”), from Proto-Italic *wre- (“again”)) + trousser (“to fold up, hitch up”).
Origin
- Source language: French
Word Breakdown
- Root: retroussé, re-, *wre-
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /ˌɹɛtɹuˈseɪ/
- British English: /ɹəˈtɹuːseɪ/