donnée

American  

[do-ney] / dɒˈneɪ /

noun

1. a set of artistic or literary premises or assumptions.

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donnée British  

/ dɔne /

noun

1. a subject or theme

2. a basic assumption or fact

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Etymology

Origin of donnée

1875–80; < French: literally, given, noun use of feminine past participle of donner to give < Latin dōnāre; see donate

Example Sentences

And with that donnée, as Henry James would have called it, the excitement begins.

From The New Yorker • Nov. 6, 2016

We must grant the artist his subject, his idea, what the French call his donnée; our criticism is applied only to what he makes of it.

From The New Yorker • Sep. 19, 2014

I think it’s the most daring donnée a novel has ever taken on, which is to make a novel that’s exciting about boredom.

From New York Times • Apr. 8, 2011

C'est la règle de conduite donnée par la nature humaine et indiquée par l'histoire.

From A Lecture on the Study of History by Acton, John Emerich Edward Dalberg Acton, Baron

On appelle pragmatique toute constitution donnée en connaissance de cause du consentiment unanime de tous les grands, et consacrée par la volonté du prince.

From History of the Rise of the Huguenots Vol. 1 by Baird, Henry Martyn