Definitions
from The Century Dictionary.
- noun Turn; contour; figure; shape.
- noun A pad or more elastic structure worn tied round the waist by women, in order to give the hips an agreeably rounded outline; hence, the whole back drapery of a gown; sometimes, incorrectly, a bustle.
from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.
- noun Turn; contour; figure.
- noun Any device used by women to expand the skirt of a dress below the waist; a bustle.
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- noun
turn ;contour ;figure - noun Any device used by women to expand the skirt of a dress below the waist; a
bustle .
Etymologies
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
Support
Help support Wordnik (and make this page ad-free) by adopting the word tournure.
Examples
-
A noticeable feature in her tournure was a magnificent mass of braided locks.
The Woodlanders 2006
-
A noticeable feature in her tournure was a magnificent mass of braided locks.
The Woodlanders Thomas Hardy 1884
-
Now, though I would not recommend to you, to go into women’s company in search of solid knowledge, or judgment, yet it has its use in other respects; for it certainly polishes the manners, and gives une certaine tournure, which is very necessary in the course of the world; and which Englishmen have generally less of than any people in the world.
Letters to his son on The Art of Becoming a Man of the World and a Gentleman 2005
-
A company wholly composed of men of learning, though greatly to be valued and respected, is not meant by the words GOOD COMPANY; they cannot have the easy manners and, 'tournure' of the world, as they do not live in it.
Complete Project Gutenberg Earl of Chesterfield Works Philip Dormer Stanhope Chesterfield 1733
-
This, with your physics, your geometry, and your exercises, will be all that you can possibly have time for at Paris; for you must allow a great deal for company and pleasures: it is they that must give you those manners, that address, that 'tournure' of the 'beau monde', which will qualify you for your future destination.
Complete Project Gutenberg Earl of Chesterfield Works Philip Dormer Stanhope Chesterfield 1733
-
It is in the best companies only; that you can learn the best manners and that 'tournure', and those graces, which I have so often recommended to you, as the necessary means of making a figure in the world.
Letters to His Son on the Art of Becoming a Man of the World and a Gentleman, 1748 Philip Dormer Stanhope Chesterfield 1733
-
A company wholly composed of men of learning, though greatly to be valued and respected, is not meant by the words GOOD COMPANY; they cannot have the easy manners and, 'tournure' of the world, as they do not live in it.
Letters to His Son on the Art of Becoming a Man of the World and a Gentleman, 1748 Philip Dormer Stanhope Chesterfield 1733
-
You have the French language so perfectly, and you will acquire the French 'tournure' so soon, that I do not know anybody likely to pass their time so well at Paris as yourself.
Complete Project Gutenberg Earl of Chesterfield Works Philip Dormer Stanhope Chesterfield 1733
-
You easily guess that I mean the graces, the air, address, politeness, and, in short, the whole 'tournure' and
Letters to His Son on the Art of Becoming a Man of the World and a Gentleman, 1750 Philip Dormer Stanhope Chesterfield 1733
-
You have the French language so perfectly, and you will acquire the French 'tournure' so soon, that I do not know anybody likely to pass their time so well at Paris as yourself.
Letters to His Son on the Art of Becoming a Man of the World and a Gentleman, 1750 Philip Dormer Stanhope Chesterfield 1733
yarb commented on the word tournure
"He at once replied that while he couldn't say he recalled all this in, uh, quite such unerring detail, still, if a lifetime's delight in the mere look, the mere tournure, of women, in the posed and lovely portraits they always somehow made him half-think they were-"
- W.M. Spackman, An Armful of Warm Girl
January 2, 2012
hernesheir commented on the word tournure
Very nice, yarb. Thanks for this word. I'm tempted to read this book, one which you've mentioned before here.
January 2, 2012
yarb commented on the word tournure
It's quite a difficult novel to read and I'm not sure if I will read more by Spackman. He has a special talent for dialogue, reproducing all the filler, dislocations and verbal tics of real speech - sort of like Don DeLillo but Spackman's characters have an extra layer of fanciness in their vocabulary. He is fun to read, just not that engaging; not at all gripping. Something to read four or five pages at a time perhaps.
January 3, 2012