rubenesque

Everyday

1. (euphemism, polite) of a woman: plump, with a full, rounded figure, like the women in the paintings of the artist Rubens. tree →
2. in the style of the painter Peter Paul Rubens. tree →

In the lessons

Used in fashion, art writing and polite description to describe a larger woman kindly and admiringly; formal, literary, all regions. It can still feel like a comment on someone's body.

Examples

• The painting shows a rubenesque goddess. tree →
• The magazine called the actress "rubenesque". tree →
• In art class we looked at Rubenesque figures. tree →
• The shop sells clothes for rubenesque figures. tree →
• "Rubenesque is a fancy word for plump," explained the teacher. tree →
• Some people find the word flattering, others find it rude. tree →

Note

Stands for "plump" or "fat" but sounds artistic. Often written with a capital R (from a name). Comments on people's bodies can hurt, even with a kind word.