belletrism

noun

bel·​le·​trism

bel-ˈle-ˌtri-zəm

variants or belles-lettrism

bel-ˈle-ˌtri-zəm

plural -s

: an interest in belles lettres to the neglect of more practical or informative literature : literary aestheticism

emphasis upon belletrism … is an educational luxury in this chaotic era

—W. L. Moore

Word History

Etymology

belles lettres + -ism

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