belle amie /be-la-mē/ noun

A female friend or mistress

belle assemblée /be-la-sã-blā/ noun

A fashionable gathering

belle-de-nuit /-də-nwē/ noun

(Fr, night beauty) marvel of Peru (qv)

belle laide /bel led/ noun

A jolie laide

belle-laide adjective

belle-mère /bel-mer/ noun

A mother-in-law

belle passion /pa-syɔ̃/ noun

The tender passion, love

belle peinture /pɛ̃-tür/ noun

Naturalistic painting

belle vue /vü/ noun

A fine prospect

la belle époque /la-bel-ā-pok/

(also with caps) ‘the fine period’, the time of security and gracious living for the well-to-do, ended by World War I