Commedia Dell'arte Definition

kə-mādē-ə dĕl-ärtē, -tĕ, -mĕdē-ə

noun

A type of Italian comedy developed in the 16th through 18th cent. and employing a stereotyped plot, improvised dialogue, and stock characters such as Pantaloon, Harlequin, and Columbine.

Webster's New World

Origin of Commedia Dell'arte

Italian commedia comedy dell'arte of the guild, professional (from arte art, craft, guild)

From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition