doyen — the senior member of a group, especially one who is respected for their experience and expertise
Part of speech: NOUN
Definition: the senior member of a group, especially one who is respected for their experience and expertise
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈdɔɪən/
Example Sentences
- The 90-year-old professor is still the doyen of quantum physics, though he now explains equations with a magnifying glass.
- As the doyen of food critics, her restaurant reviews can make or break a chef's career.
- The doyen of fashion designers still sketches by hand while his assistants work on iPads.
doyen
NOUN[/ˈdɔɪən/]
the senior member of a group, especially one who is respected for their experience and expertise
The doyen of French cuisine guides young chefs through his signature dish.
The doyen flips a coin to see who will join!
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
The word derives from French 'doyen', which comes from Latin 'decanus', meaning 'leader of ten'. Originally used in ecclesiastical contexts to denote a monastic official who presided over ten monks or clerics.
Breakdown
Latin 'decanus' (from 'decem', meaning ten, + '-anus', a suffix denoting office or position) evolved into French 'doyen', which was adopted directly into English with the meaning of a senior or most respected member of a group.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“The 90-year-old professor is still the doyen of quantum physics, though he now explains equations with a magnifying glass.”
“As the doyen of food critics, her restaurant reviews can make or break a chef's career.”
“The doyen of fashion designers still sketches by hand while his assistants work on iPads.”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
Antonyms
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