Park Avenuen.
/ˌpɑːk ˈavᵻnjuː/, U.S. /ˌpɑrk ˈævəˌn(j)u/ Chiefly U.S.
attributive. Of or relating to Park Avenue; spec. designating a wealthy socialite typically associated with this area, esp. in Park Avenue matron.
ΘΚΠ
society > society and the community > social class > the common people > specific classes of common people > fashionable society > [adjective]
townishc1450
of mode1676
fashionable1712
smart1719
high-lifed1733
social1741
high-lived1757
West Endish1855
Fifth Avenue1858
mundane1904
societified1912
Park Avenue1923
1923 N.Y. Times 4 Feb. 21/3 (advt.) ‘After I grew up—I am now seventy-eight’—said a Park Avenue matron last week, ‘I recall it was always very pleasant to meet here girls I knew with their mothers or governesses.’
1956 R. Macaulay Towers of Trebizond vi. 59 Mrs. Van Damm looked very handsome and bland, with blue hair and eyes and Park Avenue clothes.
1975 J. Hone Sixth Directorate iv. 149 She had all the rare finesse of a Park Avenue debutante.
1992 Wall St. Jrnl. 4 Nov. a12/2 She often meets up with cheapskates, especially Park Avenue matrons.
2003 Washington Post (Nexis) 7 Feb. An amusing look at a pampered Park Avenue matron with too many things to do.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2005; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1923