doyen

English

Etymology

From French doyen, from Latin decānus from Greek δεκανός. Compare dean.

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -ɔɪən, -ɛn

Noun

doyen (plural doyens)

1. (obsolete) A commander in charge of ten men.
2. The senior, or eldest male member of a group.
3. (colloquial) A leading light, or exemplar of a particular practice or movement.
   • 2008 July 3, Amanda Schaffer, “The Sex Difference Evangelists”, part 3: “Mars, Venus, Babies, and Hormones”, in Slate,

     In an interview, even Simon Baron-Cohen, another doyen of sex-difference claims, offered up some caution.

Related terms

• doyenne

Translations

(obsolete) a commander

the senior member

• French: doyen (fr) m
• Italian: decano (it) m
• Japanese: 元老 (げんろう, genrō)

• Persian: سرکرده (fa) (sarkarde)

(colloquial) a leading light

Anagrams

• doney

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French

Etymology

From Old French deien < Latin decānus.

Pronunciation

• IPA: /dwajɛ̃/

• Audio

  (file)

Noun

doyen m (plural doyens)

1. (religion, university) dean
2. senior member, doyen