Etymology

précieuse

Today it means: Someone (especially a woman) who affects refinement and delicacy; a fastidious or pretentious woman. Full definition →

First used 17th c.French précieuse
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The story

  1. French · borrowed fromprécieuse
  2. French · borrowed fromprécieuse
  3. English todayprécieuse

Borrowed from French précieuse.

First known use, by meaning

  • from 17th c. Someone (especially a woman) who affects refinement and delicacy; a fastidious or pretentious woman.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.