reynard

/'renəd, 'reinɑ:d/

Friendly

The word "reynard" is a noun that refers to a fox, especially in stories and tales. It comes from the name of a famous character in a collection of stories called "Reynard the Fox," where the fox is portrayed as clever and cunning.

Explanation:

• Basic Meaning: "Reynard" is often used as a traditional name for a fox in literature, especially in fables or stories where animals talk and behave like humans.
• Usage: You can use "reynard" when discussing tales or stories that feature a fox as a main character. It has a somewhat old-fashioned or literary feel.

Example:

• In the story "Reynard the Fox," the main character is a clever fox who tricks other animals to get what he wants.

Advanced Usage:

• In literature, "Reynard" can symbolize cunning and trickery, often representing characters who are clever in a sly or deceitful way.

Word Variants:

• There are no direct variants of "reynard" as a word, but it can be associated with the term "fox" in general.
• The adjective form could be "reynardine," though it is rarely used.

Different Meanings:

• "Reynard" primarily refers to the fox in the context of literature. It does not have other meanings outside of this literary context.

Synonyms:

• Fox (in general usage)
• Trickster (in a broader sense, when referring to cunning characters)

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:

• There are no specific idioms or phrasal verbs that use "reynard," but you might encounter phrases like "sly as a fox," which captures a similar idea of cleverness.

Summary:

"Reynard" is a literary term for a fox, used especially in fables and stories. It represents cleverness and trickery.

Academic

Noun

1. a conventional name for a fox used in tales following usage in the old epic `Reynard the Fox'

Synonyms

• reynard