Standard Lemma guide

Zeligesque

adj · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • General-American, Received-Pronunciation: /ˌzɛlɪɡˈɛsk/
  • General-American: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • rhymes with -ɛsk

1

adj

Meaning 1

Of a person: appearing at a surprisingly wide variety of historic events or with a diverse group of historic figures.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: Zelig-like

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From Zelig + -esque (suffix meaning ‘in the manner or style of’, forming adjectives from nouns (especially proper nouns)), referring to the character Leonard Zelig from the 1983 film Zelig who meets many famous people in the 1920s and 1930s and, apparently out of his desire to fit in and be liked, unwittingly takes on the characteristics of the strong personalities around him.

Across languages

Translations

2 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Finnish: historiassa alati toistuva — of a person: appearing at a surprisingly wide variety of historic events and/or with a diverse group of historic figures
  • Polish: jak Zelig — of a person: appearing at a surprisingly wide variety of historic events and/or with a diverse group of historic figures