dulcet

C2 Topic:Describing Qualities

US /ˈdʌlsɛt/ UK /ˈdʌl.sɪt/ See IPA manual

Freq #69170

Meanings

1

adj
pleasing to the ear

The dulcet tones of the cello.
2

adj
extremely pleasant in a gentle way

The most dulcet swimming on the most beautiful and remote beaches.
3

adj
Sweet, especially when describing voice or tones; melodious.

Her name was Michaela, but the men called her filthy things in dulcet, ingratiating voices, and she giggled with childish joy because she understood no English and thought they were flattering her and making harmless jokes.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adj · pleasing to the ear sweet

3 adj · sweet, especially when... birdsweetmellifluous

Word family

Derived forms dulcetly

Related forms billet-douxdulcianadulcifydulcimerdulcineaedulcorate

Simplified etymology

Dulcet entered late Middle English in the earlier form doucet, from an Old French diminutive of doux, “sweet.” French doux derives from Latin dulcis, also “sweet,” and the Latin form later influenced the English spelling.

Etymology

From Middle English doucet, from Old French doucet, from dulz, dulce (“sweet, pleasant”) + diminutive -et, from Latin dulcis (“sweet, pleasant”). Cognate with Spanish dulce, French doux, Italian dolce, Portuguese doce, and Romanian dulce. Doublet of dolcetto and doucet.

Topics

Describing Qualities

External links

# dulcet

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2
**Part of speech:** adj
**IPA (US):** /ˈdʌlsɛt/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈdʌl.sɪt/
**Frequency rank:** 69170

## Meanings
1. pleasing to the ear
2. extremely pleasant in a gentle way
3. Sweet, especially when describing voice or tones; melodious.

## Examples
- The dulcet tones of the cello.
- The most dulcet swimming on the most beautiful and remote beaches.
- Her name was Michaela, but the men called her filthy things in dulcet, ingratiating voices, and she giggled with childish joy because she understood no English and thought they were flattering her and making harmless jokes.

## Synonyms
- sweet
- birdsweet
- mellifluous

## Derived Forms
- dulcetly

## Related Forms
- billet-doux
- dulciana
- dulcify
- dulcimer
- dulcinea
- edulcorate

## Etymology
From Middle English doucet, from Old French doucet, from dulz, dulce (“sweet, pleasant”) + diminutive -et, from Latin dulcis (“sweet, pleasant”). Cognate with Spanish dulce, French doux, Italian dolce, Portuguese doce, and Romanian dulce. Doublet of dolcetto and doucet.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities

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