French word

romanesque

Pronunciation

IPA/ʁomanɛsk/

Meaning

  • adjectivenovelistic

Example

C'est une histoire romanesque.

It is a novelistic story.

Illustration for romanesque (novelistic)

More examples

Le village paraît romanesque.

The village looks novelistic.

Core concept

A story charged with strong emotion and remarkable events unfolding one after another.

Common phrases

  • une ambiance romanesque

    a novelistic atmosphere

  • un décor romanesque

    a novelistic setting

  • une histoire romanesque

    a novelistic story

Similar words

romantique: Sweetly and emotionally expressive, especially in matters of love.
dramatique: Strongly emphasizing events or feelings to create tension and a sense of importance.
théâtral: Excessively dramatic in a way that seems staged or performed.
exagéré: Expressed with more force or scale than the facts justify.

Definition in French

Qui évoque un récit romanesque : dramatisation, émotions vives ou enchaînement d'événements remarquables.

Word origin

French romanesque combines roman, from Old French romanz and Latin romanice, with the suffix -esque for a novel-like quality.

Usage tips

  • French romanesque usually means novelistic or melodramatic, while English romanesque most often refers to a medieval architectural style.

Other meanings

  • romanticadjective
  • Romanesqueadjective

Opposites

  • réalisterealisticadjective
  • prosaïqueprosaicadjective

Word lists with this word