Word of the Day: HAUTEUR
Pronunciation: UK /əʊˈtɜːr/ or US /hoʊˈtɝ/

Meaning:

'Hauteur' means an overbearing, disdainful attitude or an arrogant way of behaving, conveying a belief that you are superior to others.

Examples for daily usage:

  • The CEO's hauteur alienated many talented employees.
  • She spoke with an air of hauteur, refusing to acknowledge anyone outside her circle.

Origin and history:

Hauteur originates from France and the French language. It stems from the French word haut (meaning "high" or "tall") and the Old French hauture. In English, the word was adopted in the 1620s and is used as a noun to describe an obnoxious display of overbearing pride, arrogance, or a haughty bearing.

Cultural Significance and modern usage

Historically, hauteur (stemming from the French word haut, meaning "high") was closely tied to royalty and the ruling elite. It represented an ingrained belief in divine right, where power created a detachment from common societal struggles.

In classical literature and theatre, hauteur was frequently the defining trait of nobility. It served to enforce social hierarchies, demanding deference from the lower classes through a display of scorn, hubris, and condescension. 

Culturally, it has historically stood in direct opposition to humility. Instead of demonstrating approachability, a figure exhibiting hauteur asserts their superiority to command respect or fear.

Interesting facts

  • 'Hauteur' is one of many French words that entered English while keeping its original spelling and pronunciation.
  • Unlike pride, which can be positive, hauteur almost always has a negative connotation.

Examples from literature:

  1. Sliding, she charged by, talking to some other charm bracelet, both of them moving with that lazy, confident hauteur they all had._ Middlesex: A Novel by Jeffrey Eugenides
  2. Nor did Oppenheimer share the hauteur that other theoretical physicists displayed toward Lawrence and his crew of preoccupied tinkers.-Big Science by Michael Hiltzik
  3. Heqet snatched up a bunch of grapes and held them across his throat like a necklace, meanwhile assuming an expression of such conceited hauteur that both Ranofer and the Ancient burst out laughing.-The Golden Goblet by Eloise Jarvis McGraw
  4. “It is true,” Milo exclaimed with a strong trace of the old hauteur.- Catch-22 by Joseph Heller

Synonyms:

  • Arrogance
  • Haughtiness
  • Superiority
  • Pride
  • Condescension

Antonyms:

  • Humility
  • Modesty
  • Respect
  • Warmth
  • Friendliness

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