fin de siècle
[ fan duh sye-kluh ]
/ fɛ̃ də ˈsyɛ klə /
noun
the end of the 19th century.
adjective
Sometimes fin-de-siècle.
of, relating to, or characterized by concepts of art, society, etc., associated with the end of the 19th century.
Words nearby fin de siècle
fimbriation,
fimbrillate,
fimbriocele,
fimicolous,
fin,
fin de siècle,
fin keel,
fin ray,
fin whale,
fin-footed,
fin.
British Dictionary definitions for fin de siecle
fin de siècle
/ French (fɛ̃ də sjɛklə) /
noun
the end of the 19th century, when traditional social, moral, and artistic values were in transition
adjective fin-de-siècle
of or relating to the close of the 19th century
decadent, esp in artistic tastes
Cultural definitions for fin de siecle
fin de siècle
[ (fann duh see-ek-luh) ]
The end of the nineteenth century; the phrase is French for “end of the century.” Fin de siècle is particularly used to describe the period's self-conscious artistic movements and a sophisticated despair that became popular at the time. Oscar Wilde is one of the best-known fin-de-siècle figures.