EPISODE · May 7, 2008 · 2 MIN

beau geste

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for May 7, 2008 is: beau geste • \boh-ZHEST\ • noun 1 : a graceful or magnanimous gesture 2 : an ingratiating conciliatory gesture Examples: Rather than compete against his best friend for the scholarship, Brayden gallantly stepped aside, a beau geste that Anthony never forgot. Did you know? "Beau geste" is a phrase borrowed from French; the literal translation is "beautiful gesture." Beau Geste is also the title of a 1924 novel by Percival Christopher Wren, featuring three English brothers who join the French Foreign Legion to repair their family honor. The novel spawned several film versions, including one starring Gary Cooper. Wren didn't invent the phrase "beau geste," which first appeared in print in 1900, but the publicity surrounding the novel and subsequent films likely contributed to the expression's popularity. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Episode metadata supplied by the publisher feed · Published May 7, 2008

Embed this episode

Attribution link and audio player

Ready to play

beau geste

0:00 2:05

1×

No transcript for this episode yet

We transcribe on demand. Request one and we'll notify you when it's ready — usually under 10 minutes.

Share this episode

Similar Episodes

No similar episodes found.

Similar Podcasts

French Your Way Jessica: Native French teacher founder of French Your Way Boost your French listening skills and test your comprehension with this one of a kind series of podcasts. Get the chance to listen to a real conversation between native speakers talking at normal speed AND customise your learning experience through carefully designed sets of questions (2 levels of difficulty) available for download at www.frenchvoicespodcast.com. All interviews also come with the transcript. French teacher Jessica interviews native speakers of French from around the world who share a bit of their life and passion. Where else would you meet in one same place a French yoga teacher based in Melbourne, a soap manufacturer from Provence, or a couple cycling around the world?

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is this episode of Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day?

This episode is 2 minutes long.

When was this Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day episode published?

This episode was published on May 7, 2008.

Can I download this Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day episode?

Yes. Use the download control on the episode player to save the publisher-provided media file.

URL copied to clipboard!