dilettante Hear it!

dilettante Definition

dil·et·tante (dil′ə tänt′, -tant′; dil′ə tänt′, -tant′; occas. dil′ə tän′tē, -tan′-)

noun pl. -·tantes′ or -·tan′ti′-tī′, -tē

  1. Now Rare a person who loves the fine arts
  2. a person who follows an art or science only for amusement and in a superficial way; dabbler

Etymology: It < prp. of dilettare, to delight < L delectare, to charm, delight

adjective

of or characteristic of a dilettante

dilettante Related Forms

dil′·et·tant′·ish adjective dil′·et·tant′·ism′ noun or dil′·et·tan′·te·ism′

dilettante Synonyms

dilettante

n.

dabbler, trifler, aesthete, amateur; see amateur. See syn. study at amateur, connoisseur.

dilettante Usage Examples

Converse of object

become: His ambitions were high, but he became a dilettante.

Modifies a noun

  • gentleman: In the large waists and strong arms of the girls under his training, some dilettante gentleman may mourn a loss of feminine delicacy.
  • attitude: Local Afghanis resented not only the greater wealth of the " Gucci Mujahadeen, " but also their dilettante attitude toward the fighting.

Browse dictionary entries near dilettante

  1. ‹ dilemma
  2. ‹ dildo
  3. ‹ Dilaudid
  4. ‹ dilatory
  5. ‹ dilator
  6. ‹ dilatometer
  7. ‹ dilation
  8. ‹ dilate
  9. ‹ dilatation
  10. ‹ dilatant
  1. Dili ›
  2. diligence ›
  3. diligent ›
  4. dill ›
  5. dill pickle ›
  6. dilly ›
  7. dillydally ›
  8. Dilthey ›
  9. diltiazem ›
  10. diluent ›