dilettante
[ dil-i-tahnt, dil-i-tahnt, -tahn-tey, -tan-tee ]
/ ˈdɪl ɪˌtɑnt, ˌdɪl ɪˈtɑnt, -ˈtɑn teɪ, -ˈtæn ti /
noun, plural dil·et·tantes, dil·et·tan·ti [dil-i-tahn-tee] /ˈdɪl ɪˈtɑn ti/.
a person who takes up an art, activity, or subject merely for amusement, especially in a desultory or superficial way; dabbler.
a lover of an art or science, especially of a fine art.
adjective
of or relating to dilettantes.
Origin of dilettante
OTHER WORDS FROM dilettante
dil·et·tan·tish, dil·et·tan·te·ish, adjectiveWords nearby dilettante
Example sentences from the Web for dilettantish
Men who marry rich, by contrast, are often seen as dilettantish—effete even.
Mitt Romney: The GOP’s Own John Kerry, or Is He More an Al Gore? |Michelle Cottle |January 14, 2012 |DAILY BEASTHe was exceedingly well fixed in a money way—a sort of dilettantish architect, with offices in the Metropolitan Tower.
The Destroying Angel |Louis Joseph VanceHis dilettantish manner was gone for good, as was also his foppish beard.
Molly Brown of Kentucky |Nell SpeedEvelyns suggestions were unpractical and dilettantish, and Pepyss ramblings not over wise.
Haunted London |Walter Thornbury
British Dictionary definitions for dilettantish
dilettante
/ (ˌdɪlɪˈtɑːntɪ) /
noun plural -tantes or -tanti (-ˈtɑːntɪ)
a person whose interest in a subject is superficial rather than professional
a person who loves the arts
adjective
of or characteristic of a dilettante
Derived forms of dilettante
dilettantish or dilettanteish, adjective dilettantism or dilettanteism, nounWord Origin for dilettante
C18: from Italian, from
dilettare to delight, from Latin
dēlectāre
Cultural definitions for dilettantish
dilettante
[ (dil-uh-tahnt, dil-uh-tahnt) ]
Someone who is interested in the fine arts as a spectator, not as a serious practitioner. Dilettante is most often used to mean a dabbler, someone with a broad but shallow attachment to any field.