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diseuse

noun
di·​seuse | \ dē-ˈzüz How to pronounce diseuse (audio) , -ˈzœz How to pronounce diseuse (audio) \
plural diseuses\ dē-​ˈzüz How to pronounce diseuses (audio) , -​ˈzœz How to pronounce diseuses (audio) \

Definition of diseuse

: a woman who is a skilled and usually professional reciter

Did You Know?

The American actress Ruth Draper (1884-1956) was known for her character-driven monologues and theatrical sketches, portraying some 58 different characters utilizing a range of languages and dialects. A comparable entertainer today might be labeled a performance artist, but a term that emerged during Draper's lifetime was "diseuse." Broadly, a diseuse is a professional female reciter, though often the word is used specifically to refer to one who recites verse or other text to music. (A male reciter would be a diseur, but that word is rare in English.) Both "diseuse" and "diseur" derive from Old French dire ("to say") and ultimately from the Latin verb dicere.

First Known Use of diseuse

1896, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for diseuse

French, feminine of diseur, from Old French, from dire to say, from Latin dicere — more at diction

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