Belle

a. and sb. [a. mod.F. (17th c.) belle, OF. bele:—L. bella, fem. of bellus beautiful, fair: see BEAU, BEL.]

  A.  adj. † 1. Pretty, handsome. Obs. as Eng.

1668.  Pepys, Diary, 16 May. I did kiss her maid, who is so mighty belle.

  2.  In certain French phrases, which have been used in Eng., as belle assemblée brilliant assembly or gathering; belle dame fair lady, belle; belle passion the tender passion, love; also BELLES-LETTRES, q.v.

1698.  Congreve, Way of World, Epil. (1866), 287. Whole belles assemblées of coquettes and beaux.

1711.  Shaftesb., Charac. (1737), III. 31. The gallant sentiments, the elegant fancys, the belle-passions.

1716.  Lady M. W. Montague, Lett., xi. I. 40. In what a delicate manner the belles passions are managed in this country.

1767.  H. Brooke, Fool of Q. (1859), I. 375 (D.). Should we see the value of a German prince’s ransom gorgeously attiring each of our belle-dames?

  B.  sb. A handsome woman, esp. one who dresses so as to set off her personal charms; the reigning ‘beauty’ of a place; a fair lady, a fair one.

1622.  Fletcher, Beggar’s Bush, IV. iv. Vandunke’s daughter, The dainty black-ey’d belle.

1712.  Pope, Rape Lock, II. 16. Might hide her faults, if Belles had faults to hide.

1712.  Arbuthnot, John Bull (1755), 42. Fantastical old belles, that dress themselves like girls of fifteen.

1779.  Johnson, Lett., 220 (1788), II. 79. My Master … courts the belles, and shakes Brightelmston.

1860.  Ld. Lytton, Lucile, I. ii. 42.