Definitions
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.
- noun One that is particularly disliked or that is to be avoided.
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- noun An
anathema ; someone or something which is particularlydisliked or avoided; an object ofaversion , thebane of one’s existence.
Etymologies
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition
[French : bête, beast + noire, black.]
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
Borrowing from French bête noire (literally "black beast").
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Examples
Sorry, no example sentences found.
mccote commented on the word bête noire
Beware bête noire...
December 8, 2006
jmjarmstrong commented on the word bête noire
JM ponders on the black dog being his bête noire.
January 19, 2010