princesse lointaine

 
Pronunciation: /prãˌsɛs lwãˈtɛn/

noun (plural princesses lointaines)

literary
  • an ideal but unattainable woman: Constant’s princesse lointaine was the Chinese film actress Anna May Wong [as modifier]: her princesse lointaine expression

Origin:

French, literally 'distant princess', from the title of a play by E. Rostand (see Rostand, Edmond), based on a theme in troubadour poetry