picaresque

[ pik-uh-resk ]

adjective

1. pertaining to, characteristic of, or characterized by a form of prose fiction, originally developed in Spain, in which the adventures of an engagingly roguish hero are described in a series of usually humorous or satiric episodes that often depict, in realistic detail, the everyday life of the common people:

   picaresque novel; picaresque hero.

2. of, relating to, or resembling rogues.

   Synonyms: raffish, devilish, rascally, prankish

picaresque

/ ˌpɪkəˈrɛsk /

adjective

1. of or relating to a type of fiction in which the hero, a rogue, goes through a series of episodic adventures. It originated in Spain in the 16th century
2. of or involving rogues or picaroons

Other Words From

• unpic·a·resque adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of picaresque¹

First recorded in 1800–10; from Spanish picaresco; picaro, -esque

Word History and Origins

Origin of picaresque¹

C19: via French from Spanish picaresco, from pícaro a rogue

Example Sentences

He sees himself as a picaresque hero in the novel that exists in his mind — and forces the rest of us to deal with it.

From Los Angeles Times

The Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival was awarded on Saturday to “Anora,” a giddily ribald picaresque from the American director Sean Baker about a sex worker who marries the son of a Russian oligarch — and things get very messy.

From New York Times

The sprawling, picaresque story uses 18th-century literary conventions to chronicle the adventures of Ebenezer Cooke, who takes possession of a tobacco farm in Maryland.

From Seattle Times

“Deepe Darknesse” is certainly picaresque.

From New York Times

“Number Go Up” is a globe-trotting nonfiction picaresque that’s as much fun as you can have reading about financial malfeasance and blockchain scams.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• anecdotal
• disjointed