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Glite Dictionary
pince-nez

pince-nez

1 9.9
A pair of glasses that clips onto the nose without earpieces
  • noun
  • /ˌpæ̃sˈneɪ/
  • Archaic
: pince-nez
  • She adjusted her pince-nez to get a clearer view of the lecture notes.
  • pince-nez glasses
  • wears a pince-nez
  • a pair of pince-nez

Examples

  • Unfortunately for her, she lost her pince-nez in the scuffle.

    The Gazer (2021)

  • The proprietor, undoubtedly one of the Hemmendinger brothers, was an old man with a pince-nez on a cord, a pronounced European-accented English, and a courtly manner.

    Fiction book (1990)

  • And what of the pince-nez?

    The Gazer (2021)

  • The clerk looked over the top of his pince-nez.

    Fiction book (1990)

  • Looking for Sally, he peers through his pince-nez at the faces he passes.

    Fiction book (1993)

  • Beria was a small man with pince-nez.

    Fiction book (2000)

  • In one sat a very short, very fat man with a white spade beard and wearing golden pince-nez.

    Fiction book (1997)

  • Merioneth took off his pince-nez, polished them on his gray fur, and put them back on.

    Fiction book (1991)

  • Vuk straightened and put his head back to look at the old man from underneath his pince-nez.

    Fiction book (1997)

  • A junior official in a stiff winged collar and gold-rimmed pince-nez looked at him dubiously.

    Fiction book (1990)

Synonyms

spex
vspince-nez
  • Slang
1 9.6

Glasses you wear to help you see or read

is a specific physical form rather than a casual slang label for eyewear
lunettes
vspince-nez
  • Archaic
1 9.4

A pair of glasses that help you see

is a specific style that lacks side supports and clips onto the nose bridge

Surface Forms

pince-nez singular
pince-nezs plural

Etymology

Pince-nez comes from French parts pince ('pinch') and nez ('nose'), like the English word 'pinch'. So a pince-nez is a pair of glasses that 'pinch' or clip the bridge of the nose to stay on without ear pieces.