English Reference

Word

conte

Phoneticscon·te

US/ˈkɔnt/

UK/kəntˈɛ/

Definition

n. a short story that is usually about an adventure or a magical event. It is often written in a simple but elegant style.

n. a short narrative, typically focusing on adventure or imaginative events. Often associated with the oral tradition or the literary fairy tales of the 17th and 18th centuries.

Examples

“The author wrote a short conte about a lost kingdom.”

“The professor explained that the conte was a popular literary form in the French salons of the late seventeenth century.”

“While the novel allows for extensive character development, the conte relies on a swift, economical narrative pace to deliver its moral or fantastical conclusion.”

Examples

simple

“The author wrote a short conte about a lost kingdom.”

contextual

“The professor explained that the conte was a popular literary form in the French salons of the late seventeenth century.”

complex

“While the novel allows for extensive character development, the conte relies on a swift, economical narrative pace to deliver its moral or fantastical conclusion.”

Usage

Often used in a literary context to refer specifically to French short stories or philosophical tales.

This entry

Level
C2 · Proficiency
Frequency
Occasional
Updated

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