purlieus
- noun
- /ˈpərlˌyü/
- Archaic
:
alrededores
- Spawn of my sister Nat—an amiable, boozy slattern—Josh grew up in a succession of trailer parks scattered around the purlieus of New Orleans.
Examples
-
The hiking trails near my home are some of my favorite purlieus, as I often visit them on weekends.
-
He often took long walks through the purlieus of the city, exploring the small parks and quiet streets.
-
The purlieus around the university were lively, filled with cafes and shops that students frequented.
Synonyms
129
3.7
The area near a place, for example shops or houses
27
4.3
A place a person or group visits often
23
3.9
An area near a place where people live or work
An area near a town or city, often quieter than the center
The area near a particular place, like local streets and shops
How Close
- US
18
1.1
- US
∞
1.8
- Archaic
218
3.6
Surface Forms
Etymology
The word purlieus comes from old French parts like pour and lieu, which mean 'around' and 'place', so a helpful way to remember it is as the 'places around' somewhere — the nearby areas or neighbourhoods people visit.