recherché

[ ruh-shair-shey, ruh-shair-shey; French ruh-sher-shey ]

adjective

1. very rare, exotic, or choice; arcane; esoteric.

   Synonyms: choice, exotic, rare

2. of studied refinement or elegance; precious; affected; pretentious.
3. sought out with care.

recherché

/ rəˈʃɛəʃeɪ; rəʃɛrʃe /

adjective

1. known only to connoisseurs; choice or rare
2. studiedly refined or elegant

Word History and Origins

Origin of recherché¹

First recorded in 1680–90; from French, past participle of rechercher “to search for carefully”; research

Word History and Origins

Origin of recherché¹

C18: from French: past participle of rechercher to make a thorough search for; see research

Example Sentences

This research was funded by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, the Canada Research Chairs Program, the Canada Foundation for Innovation, the Ministère de l'Économie et de l'Innovation du Québec, the Canadian Cancer Society, the Government of Canada's New Frontiers in Research Fund, as well as the Fonds de recherche du Québec-Nature et Technologies and the Fonds de recherche du Québec -Santé.

From Science Daily

Because of better technology for measuring very low concentration of these elements, it's now possible to do these kinds of studies, explains Sophia V. Hansson, a researcher at the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique in Toulouse, France.

From Science Daily

She flexed her compositional muscles on “Living Torch,” an electroacoustic work created for the Acousmonium, a multichannel setup developed in the 1970s at Groupe de Recherche Musicales, or GRM, in Paris.

From New York Times

“You need,” said Philippe Cury, a senior scientist at the French Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, “one-third for the birds.”

From Slate

It is like no eggnog you have ever had, and once you try it, your palate will be far too recherché for the lowly, ready-made sort found in cartons showcased along cold case shelves at your local supermarket.

From Salon

Related Words

• chic
• classic
• delicate
• dignified
• exquisite
• fancy
• fashionable
• graceful
• grand
• handsome
• luxurious
• neat
• opulent
• ornate
• polished
• refined
• silk-stocking
• simple
• stately
• stylish