French version
Preserved but no longer current.
It is the basis of Gr6try's opera Zemire et Azor (1771). The story of a handsome and wealthy prince being compelled by enchantment to assume the appearance and character of a loathsome beast or formidable dragon until released by the pure love of one who does not suspect the disguise, is of great antiquity and takes various forms.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “French version” mean?
It is the basis of Gr6try's opera Zemire et Azor (1771). The story of a handsome and wealthy prince being compelled by enchantment to assume the appearance and character of a loathsome beast or formidable dragon until released by the pure love of one who does not suspect the disguise, is of great antiquity and takes various forms.
Is “French version” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.