Les Précieuses (the Precious Ones) were a literary circle of erudite ladies in 17th-century Paris (Dame). The term was derived from French préciosité (value; choiceness; diligence; refinement), which had been current since the 14th century and became fashionable in society around 1620, remaining so for around 50 years by very reason of its moral ambivalence. Synonymous on the one hand with a virtuous and arist…