Marie Jeanne Bécu

9.9

A French woman at court and the last mistress of King Louis XV executed during the French Revolution

proper noun

: Marie Jeanne Bécu

During the Revolution, Marie Jeanne Bécu was arrested and eventually sent to the guillotine.

Examples

Marie Jeanne Bécu became widely known at the French court under the title Comtesse du Barry.
Historians often cite Marie Jeanne Bécu as a symbol of the opulence and decline of the Ancien Régime.
The fascinating life of Marie Jeanne Bécu is often overlooked.
Marie Jeanne Bécu was a prominent figure in the French court.
Marie Jeanne Bécu became widely known at the French court under the title Comtesse du Barry.
During the Revolution, Marie Jeanne Bécu was arrested and eventually sent to the guillotine.
Historians often cite Marie Jeanne Bécu as a symbol of the opulence and decline of the Ancien Régime.

Synonyms

Madame du Barry

vsMarie Jeanne Bécu

1 9.9

A French woman who became the main royal lover of King Louis XV and was executed during the French Revolution

is presented as a courtier and final royal companion without stressing political influence

Surface Forms

Marie Jeanne Bécu main

Morphology

Marie + Jeanne + Bécu

This is a full personal name referring to a specific historical individual; knowing the constituent given names and surname does not allow a B1 learner to infer the biographical information (that she was a French courtier and mistress of Louis XV executed in the Revolution). Proper names are non‑compositional and do not transparently convey roles, dates, or events across languages, so the meaning cannot be derived from the parts.

Etymology

Marie Jeanne Bécu was a woman who rose from humble beginnings to become King Louis XV's last official mistress, living in great luxury as the Comtesse du Barry before being arrested and guillotined in the French Revolution. That's why her name is often used as a symbol of the lavish life of the 'old regime' and its sudden fall.