Bourgeois
bour·geois [boor-zhwä] n. pl. - a member of the middle class, esp one regarded as being conservative and materialistic or (in Marxist theory) a capitalist exploiting the working class. adj. - of, relating to, or typical of the middle class.
Synonyms: there are no synonyms for such a specific word, but some related terms are: businessperson, capitalist, burgher.
Etymology: 1560s, "of the French middle class," from French bourgeois, from Old French burgeis, borjois "town dweller" (see bourgeoisie). Sense of "socially or aesthetically conventional" is from 1764; in communist and socialist writing, as a noun, "a capitalist" (1883).
40 comments:
Booteefool
I think I may pop in each morning and make a mental note to use your "word of the day" in casual conversation. (this could get interesting, I dare say)
I unintentionally did yesterday....which should tell you what kind of day it was.
Burgermeister Meisterburger!
Steve said exactly what I was thinking!
It's a lovely sounding word.
Thank you, noble burgher of the blog parish!
Oh my gosh... in high school I wanted to use this word in a writing piece and had no idea how to spell it. My teachers or parents wouldn't tell me. It took FOREVER to figure it out... cause, you know, the internet wasn't that big back then.
Thanks for the horrible flashback! lmao
French words are so sexy!! Take care
x
This word always makes me think of Agatha Christie's Poirot - "Monsieur, it may be bourgeois to disapprove of murder, but alas, I am very bourgeois myself." And variations on that theme through many of the later books featuring him.
Did you choose your words randomly or did you pick the nice sounding ones?
I'm going to use this word today and see if anyone knows what I'm talking about.
I agree with old kitty- French words are sexy. :)
I love that word, more because it's so dang fun to say.
Call me Capitalist.
Hi Matthew, Great way to go through A to Z and I am looking forward to see the rest of this vocabulary lesson. The connotation of the related words without the accompanying context elicit quite a different sense in me. Thanks for getting me thinking. God bless, Maria from Delight Directed Living
I love Louise's quote. Always thought this was a good word, but people misuse it all the time. Stuff like that pisses of word-nerds, like me...
Tina @ Life is Good
Co-host, April 2013 A-Z Challenge Blog
@TinaLifeisGood, #atozchallenge
I love discovering obscure words and their etymologies! I simply must use asinine in my current book - not sure I can work in bourgeois though.
I have friends that use the word "bourdeois" to describe things that are middle class. It makes them sound sophisticated.
Another descriptor that deserves a comeback.
Hah! Another great new word to add to my list today. I have no idea how I'd ever use it!
A to Z: http://www.deborahdera.com
Daarrrhhhling, as one is descended from the French aristocracy, one is often thinking the peasants are just toooo bourgeois!
That's so interesting. I always thought it referred to the upper class. I learned something new again!
A very elegant sounding word. I'll be by each day as this is better than those 'Word A Day' calendars :)
in Romanian it's the same: he have just partial synonyms, mostly explanations.
Reminds me of the Roman equestrian order, the group of people on the bottom end of the patricians.
Although when I hear "equestrian," I think of those horse riders jumping over fences.
That's one of those words where I generally knew what it meant, but it's cool to read the full definition. Good choice.
I so loved this word when I loved to pronounce it. Now, not so much. ;)
Damyanti @Daily(w)rite
Co-host, A to Z Challenge 2013
Twitter: @AprilA2Z
#atozchallenge
Bourgeois is a common Cajun name.
I think I'll second what Clair Hennessy said and continue laughing about it. Well put, Clair! A great 'B' day word!
Whoops! put an 'e' on the end of Claire for me - such a bourgeois mistake! Apologies, my lady! *as Nina takes a knee*
LOL How is this for a synonym for borgois? American senators, congressmen, and the president. >:)
Great words to share for the A-Z challenge. I'm trying to think of a way to use the word Bourgeois in normal conversation. Sadly, asinine is a lot easier to use!
Otherwise known as bigheaded bossy guys who take advantage of the little guys. :)
What I love is how people use that word without meaning that it's supposed to be insulting.
I do love that sound of it, though.
Heard this word a lot in history class. Especially when talking about France and the 'French Caribbean.' Good choice today.
Let me try this post again...
Bourgeois is a word that plays to my sociologist soul. I spent many a day with Karl and his largely ignored pal, Freddie Engels.
I could be near-bourgeois if I gave up writing and went back to teaching Marx. There's irony for you.
~VR Barkowski
Reminds me of my politics lectures...I never did like politics...but good post, and well done.
I used to think this was like an upper class snot, but I was wrong!
Another fantastic word. I might be with Chantal and try to work in your word as my word of the day... depending on where you take us. :-)
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