Sanssouci

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

  1. A term referring to a place of relaxation or enjoyment, often associated with a specific garden or palace in Germany that embodies tranquility and leisure
  2. Describing a locale characterized by comfort and the absence of worries; notably linked to a notable historical site where pleasure and beauty coexist
  3. Representing an essence of carefree enjoyment and serenity, prominently tied to an iconic garden estate known for its peaceful ambiance and architectural elegance

Etymology: Sanssouci is a palace in Potsdam, built for Frederick the Great of Prussia, and its name is simply French for "without worry." The royal summer palace was designed in the 1740s as a retreat from the formal duties of court, and the name announced its purpose: a place where the king could leave cares behind. English borrowed the word from German, where the palace name had been adopted as Sanssouci, itself taken straight from the French phrase "sans souci." Because the palace became so famous, its name drifted away from the building and toward the feeling it was meant to promise. In English the word now works as an adjective for anything that is carefree or relaxed, and it is most often used for a leisurely, untroubled atmosphere rather than for the palace itself.

Synonyms: carefree, unconcerned

Antonyms: worried, anxious