sans gêne
English edit
Alternative forms edit
Etymology edit
Borrowed from French sans gêne.
Noun edit
sans gêne (uncountable)
- Lack of constraint; brazenness; unreservedness (unabashed behavior, disregard for societal constraints)
- 1919, W[illiam] Somerset Maugham, “chapter 46”, in The Moon and Sixpence, [New York, N.Y.]: Grosset & Dunlap Publishers […], →OCLC:
- The rogue, like the artist and perhaps the gentleman, belongs to no class. He is not embarrassed by the sans gene of the hobo, nor put out of countenance by the etiquette of the prince.
Translations edit
lack of constraint
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Adjective edit
sans gêne (not comparable)
- Without constraint, unembarrassed.
- 1853, Theodore Winthrop, The Canoe and the Saddle, chapter X:
- Loolowcan was evidently at home among these compatriots, frowzier even than he. He squatted among them, sans gêne, and lighted his pipe. One of the ladies did the honors, and motioned me to a seat upon a rusty bear-skin.