benêt

See also: benet, Benet, and Bene't

French

Etymology

Representing a Norman pronunciation of benoît, originally meaning "blessed", then "sanctimonious, blissful, etc." before descending into this term. For semantic development, perhaps compare etymology of English silly.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /bə.nɛ/

Noun

benêt m (plural benêts, feminine benête)

1. half-wit, simpleton

Further reading

• “benêt”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012.