coquette

plural coquettes

1. A woman who flirts or plays with people's affections.

   I was playing with him, leading him on, sending him messages of encouragement then turning away from him. I was a tease, a coquette.

   1997, Ian McEwan, Enduring Love, Vintage, published 1998, page 141

   3 more examples

   Though, I confeſs, Paris has its Charms; but to me they are like thoſe of a Coquette, gay and gavvdy; they ſerve to amuſe vvith, but a Man vvould not chuſe to be marry'd to them.

   1721, [Colley] Cibber, The Refusal; or, The Ladies Philosophy: A Comedy. […], London: […] B[arnaby Bernard] Lintot, […]; W[illiam] Mears, […]; and W[illiam Rufus] Chetwood, […], →OCLC, Act I, page 2

   She was a big, sexy brunette—as Garcia said, «Something straight out of Degas,» and generally like a beautiful Parisian coquette.

   1957 September 5, Jack Kerouac, chapter 11, in On the Road, New York, N.Y.: Viking Press, →OCLC, part 3

   Knox takes us through the lives of memorable seducers and their critics, in sometimes academic and sometimes rococo prose dappled with doges, coups de foudre, rakes, bawds, coquettes, coxcombs and procuresses — with guest appearances by members of the Frankfurt School sunning themselves in La Jolla.

   2020 April 2, Alex Kuczynski, “Philanderers, Predators and Pickup Artists: A History”, in The New York Times

2. Any hummingbird in the genus Lophornis.

present singular third person coquettes · participle present coquetting · participle past coquetted · past coquetted

1. alternativeAlternative form of coquet.

   Nobber has no small opinion of himself: he considers himself the Adonis of the Pondaati eleven, and he contemplates society as though it were Venus, and it was his mission to posturize before it, and coquette and toy with it.

   1875, Herbert Eastwick Compton, Semi-tropical trifles

1. aestheticOf or relating to a feminine style of clothing involving ribbons, frills, and bows.

   Frills, lace, bows, hearts, and ribbon (in excess!) are all part of the coquette look. […]”

   2023 January 12, Hannah Oh, “What Exactly is the Coquette Aesthetic That’s Taking Over the Internet Right Now?”, in Seventeen, retrieved 05 Jan 2024

   1 more example

   Are you a Lana Del Rey fan who lives for ultra-romantic fashion pieces and clings to trends that involve ribbons, lace, and Bridgerton-esque motifs? Then the coquette aesthetic is most definitely for you. […]”

   2023 October 24, Sierra Mayhew, “The Coquette Aesthetic Has Its Hold on Gen Z—15 Pieces That Define the Look”, in Who What Wear, retrieved 05 Jan 2024