belle
UK: bɛl | US: bɛl
n. 1. A beautiful woman, especially the most beautiful at a particular event or in a group.
n. 2. (Historical) A young lady of noble birth or high social standing.
belle = bell<beautiful> + e<feminine suffix>
- bell (from Old French bel, "beautiful," derived from Latin bellus, "pretty, charming").
- e (a common feminine suffix in French, indicating the word refers to a female).
Etymology Origin:
The word belle entered English from French, retaining its original meaning of "beautiful woman." The Latin root bellus originally described attractiveness in a delicate or refined way, and the French feminine suffix -e explicitly genders the term. Over time, belle became associated with idealized beauty, often used in contexts like belle of the ball to highlight a woman’s prominence in social settings.
She was the undisputed belle of the ball, turning heads with her elegant gown.
In 19th-century novels, the belle often symbolized both beauty and social status.
The small-town belle moved to the city, where her charm captivated everyone.
As the belle of the debutante ball, she carried herself with grace and poise.
The term "Southern belle" evokes images of refined young women in antebellum America.