‖ chef d'œuvre
(ʃɛdœvr)
Pl. chefs-d'œuvre.
[Fr.: lit. ‘chief (piece) of work’.]
A masterpiece.
| 1619 J. Chamberlain Let. 31 July in T. Birch Court & Times of Jas. I (1848) II. 182 To make up an election at Merton College, as his chef d'œuvre, and last work. 1762–71 H. Walpole Vertue's Anecd. Paint. (1786) IV. 80 In 1721 Arlaud brought this chef d'œuvre to London, but would not sell it. 1813 Moore Post-bag viii. 68 While some chefs-d'œuvre live to weary one. 1831 Scott Diary 26 Mar. in Lockhart Life, A rare collection of chefs d'œuvre. 1882 T. Mozley Remin. Ser. i. I. ix, A house of some architectural pretensions, his chef d'œuvre, people said. |