Rabelaisian

[ rab-uh-ley-zee-uhn, -zhuhn ]

adjective

1. of, relating to, or suggesting François Rabelais, whose work is characterized by broad, coarse humor and keen satire.

noun

1. a person who admires or studies the works of Rabelais.

Rabelaisian

/ ˌræbəˈleɪzɪən; -ʒən /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or resembling the work of Rabelais, esp by broad, often bawdy humour and sharp satire

noun

1. a student or admirer of Rabelais

Derived Forms

• ˌRabeˈlaisianism, noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of Rabelaisian¹

First recorded in 1855–60; Rabelais + -ian

Example Sentences

“Then,” he added, “there’s the wordplay, the dance of literary references, the Rabelaisian humor, all packed into what I like to think of as ‘fairy tales for adults.’

From New York Times

It is superficially a mystery, with a mismatched pair, the reserved physicist Wang Miao and the Rabelaisian cop Shi Qiang, investigating a rash of suicides among high-level scientists.

From New York Times

This is one of the more tender moments in a tough old-fashioned bildungsroman that meanders more than it moves, with its creator’s customary herks, jerks, digressions and Rabelaisian excesses.

From New York Times

His first order of business was to settle into the Presidential Suite at the Hotel Loftleidir and order one of his Rabelaisian meals, with bowls and bowls of skyr.

From Literature

Professor Longhair’s music, with its looping ragtime-style piano riffs, is the recognized soundtrack to the Rabelaisian event, and he is explicit on this point in “Go to the Mardi Gras.”

From Washington Times