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bellbird
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Also available:
World English Dictionary
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belles-lettres
belles-let·tres
[
bèl léttrə
]
noun
Definition:
elegant literature:
writings that are valued for their elegance and aesthetic qualities rather than for any human interest or moral or instructive content
(
takes a singular or plural verb
)
[
Mid-17th century. < French, "fine letters"
]
bel·let·rism
[
bèl lét rìzzəm
]
noun
bel·let·rist
[
bèl léttrist
]
noun
Encarta® World English Dictionary [North American Edition] © & (P)2009 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Developed for Microsoft by Bloomsbury Publishing Plc.
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