rimbaud: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowFormal, Literary, Academic
Quick answer
What does “rimbaud” mean?
The surname of Arthur Rimbaud (1854–1891), a highly influential French poet who wrote all his major works as a teenager before abandoning literature.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The surname of Arthur Rimbaud (1854–1891), a highly influential French poet who wrote all his major works as a teenager before abandoning literature.
When used in English, it functions as a metonym for the poet himself, his revolutionary poetic works (characterized by symbolism, visionary language, and the deliberate derangement of the senses), and by extension, the archetype of the brilliant, rebellious, and short-lived artistic genius.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. Pronunciation follows French approximations with regional English accents.
Connotations
Identical connotations of literary genius, precocity, rebellion, and bohemianism in both dialects.
Frequency
Equally low frequency in both varieties, appearing primarily in literary, academic, and high-cultural contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “rimbaud” in a Sentence
[Proper Noun]the [Noun] of Rimbaud[Adjective] RimbaudVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “rimbaud” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- His Rimbaud-esque rejection of societal norms fascinated the critics.
- A volume of Rimbaudian verse.
American English
- She had a Rimbaud-like intensity about her poetry.
- His style is distinctly Rimbaudian.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Common in literature, poetry, and French studies courses and publications.
Everyday
Extremely rare outside discussions of poetry or art.
Technical
Not used in technical contexts; exclusive to humanities.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “rimbaud”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “rimbaud”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “rimbaud”
- Misspelling as 'Rimbau', 'Rimbaud's' for the possessive (correct), 'Rimbaudian' as a noun instead of an adjective.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is almost exclusively a proper noun referring to the poet Arthur Rimbaud. The adjective 'Rimbaudian' or 'Rimbaud-esque' is derived from it.
In British English, it's often /ˈræm.bəʊ/. In American English, it's closer to /ræmˈboʊ/. Both are approximations of the French pronunciation.
He is a foundational figure for Symbolist and modernist poetry, renowned for the radical vision and technical innovation of works like 'A Season in Hell,' all written before he turned 21.
Figuratively, yes. Calling someone 'a Rimbaud' or describing their work as 'Rimbaudian' implies prodigious, rebellious, and visionary talent, often with a self-destructive or short-lived creative period.
The surname of Arthur Rimbaud (1854–1891), a highly influential French poet who wrote all his major works as a teenager before abandoning literature.
Rimbaud is usually formal, literary, academic in register.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A Rimbaud of our time”
- “to do a Rimbaud (to abandon one's art young)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a RAM (the animal) BOWing. The RAM BOWed like the rebellious poet Rimbaud.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE REVOLUTIONARY ARTIST IS A METEOR (brilliant, fast-burning, transformative).
Practice
Quiz
What is Arthur Rimbaud primarily known for?