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Definition of dilettante


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dil·et·tante  audio  (dl-tänt, dl-tänt, -tänt, -tnt, -tnt) KEY  

NOUN:
pl. dil·et·tantes , also dil·et·tan·ti   (-tänt, -tn-) KEY  
  1. A dabbler in an art or a field of knowledge. See Synonyms at amateur.
  2. A lover of the fine arts; a connoisseur.
ADJECTIVE:
Superficial; amateurish.

ETYMOLOGY:
Italian, lover of the arts, from present participle of dilettare, to delight, from Latin dlectre ; see delight

OTHER FORMS:
dilet·tantish (Adjective), dilet·tantism (Noun)


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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition.
Copyright © 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by the Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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