belle
Loveliest party guest
A belle is a beautiful woman, especially one who attracts admirers at social gatherings.
The term carries old-fashioned Southern charm: the belle of the ball describes the most admired woman at a party or dance.
She was the belle of the county, with suitors calling every Sunday.
The word sounds dated in contemporary use, evoking antebellum society and debutante culture. (Capitalized Belle is a given name.)
Before a war's start
- plantationLarge-scale farming operation
- DixieNickname for Confederate states
- magnoliaLarge-flowered ornamental tree
- hoop skirtStiffened petticoat with rings
cotillion · debutante · mint julep · veranda · parasol · finishing school · coming-out · courtship
Formally introduced young woman
- heiressFemale wealth recipient
- galaFestive formal occasion
- ballSpherical plaything or gala
- eliteSuperior select group
aristocracy · cotillion · patroness · glamorous · fashionable · sought-after · popular · admired
Affectionate name for beloved
- darlingBeloved person or pet
- dearTreasured or costly
- belovedOne who is treasured
- beautyAesthetic excellence
lovely · treasure · jewel · pet · angel · precious · doll · charmer
Glowing luminous quality
- lovelinessPleasing beauty or charm
- fairnessJust and equal treatment
- complexionSkin tone, appearance
- glowSteady, soft light
allure · grace · elegance · refinement · attractiveness · pulchritude · exquisiteness · comeliness
Delightfully attractive, spellbinding
- captivatingDeeply holding one's attention
- beguilingCharmingly deceptive
- bewitchingPowerfully and mysteriously charming
- winningAchieving victory
magnetic · charismatic · coquette · flirtatious · vivacious · sparkling · winsome · fetching
antebellum
Before a war's start
- plantationLarge-scale farming operation
- DixieNickname for Confederate states
- magnoliaLarge-flowered ornamental tree
hoop skirt · cotillion · debutante · mint julep · veranda · parasol · finishing school · coming-out · courtship · suitor
debutante
Formally introduced young woman
elite · aristocracy · cotillion · patroness · glamorous · fashionable · sought-after · popular · admired · envied
sweetheart
Affectionate name for beloved
beauty · lovely · treasure · jewel · pet · angel · precious · doll · charmer · enchantress
radiance
Glowing luminous quality
- lovelinessPleasing beauty or charm
- fairnessJust and equal treatment
- complexionSkin tone, appearance
glow · allure · grace · elegance · refinement · attractiveness · pulchritude · exquisiteness · comeliness · delicacy
enchanting
Delightfully attractive, spellbinding
- captivatingDeeply holding one's attention
- beguilingCharmingly deceptive
- bewitchingPowerfully and mysteriously charming
winning · magnetic · charismatic · coquette · flirtatious · vivacious · sparkling · winsome · fetching · engaging
- Adjectifsgrand, petit, beau, nouveau, long
- socialitessocialite, debutante, heiress, jet setter, jet-setter
- French Loanwordsa la carte, ballet, a la mode, au revoir, bon appetit
- attractiveattractive, gorgeous, pretty, handsome, lovely
- Southernsweet tea, front porch, grits, y'all, fried chicken
- Antebellum Southplantation, cotton kingdom, overseer, slave quarters, big house
bellehag
Frightening elderly witch
dog · crone · ugly duckling · eyesore · plain Jane
bellewallflower
Shy person avoiding socializing
shrinking violet · nobody · outcast · pariah · recluse
- belle of the ballMost admired woman present
- Southern bellesRefined women from the South
- belle époqueA flourishing cultural period
embellish, embellishment, embellished, embellishing, embellishments, belles, embellisher