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condottiere definition

con·dot·tiere (kän′dô tyer′ā; It kō̂n′dō̂t tye′re)

noun pl. condottieri -·ri (-ē; It, -rē)

in Europe from the 14th to the 16th cent., a captain of a band of mercenaries

Etymology: It < condotto, one hired < L conductus, mercenary soldier < pp. of conducere, to hire, lead together (see conduce); infl. in It by condotta, leadership < same L source

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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