roman à clef
Also found in: Thesaurus, Wikipedia.
ro·man à clef
(rō-mäN′ ä klā′)n. pl. ro·mans à clef (rōmäN′ zä klā′)
A novel in which actual persons, places, or events are depicted in fictional guise.
[French : roman, novel + à, with + clef, key.]
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
roman à clef
(rɔmɑ̃ a kle)n, pl romans à clef (rɔmɑ̃ a kle)
(Literary & Literary Critical Terms) a novel in which real people are depicted under fictitious names
[literally: novel with a key]
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
roman à clef
1. A French phrase meaning novel with a key, used to mean a novel in which real people are described but under false names.
2. A story based on real characters and events known to the author, but presented under fictitious names.
Dictionary of Unfamiliar Words by Diagram Group Copyright © 2008 by Diagram Visual Information Limited
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Switch to new thesaurus
| Noun | 1. | roman a clef - a novel in which actual persons and events are disguised as fictional characters novel - an extended fictional work in prose; usually in the form of a story |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
Translations
roman à clef
n → Schlüsselroman m
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007