dilettante

Meanings

• noun

  A person who pursues an activity in which they have little or no expertise, often for pleasure rather than financial gain or professional development.

  - "Despite being a dilettante in painting, her artwork was impressive."
  - "He is a dilettante when it comes to cooking but loves hosting dinner parties."

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Pronunciation

1. /dɪləˈtɒnti/
   
   
   
   Source: "https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=89007640"

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Antonyms

professional

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Synonyms

amateur , dabbler

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Rhymes

Words rhyming with dilettante
rhetorician , deterministic , metaphysician

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Variants

List of all variants of dilettante that leads to same result
dilettante , dilettantes , dilettanti , dilettantish , dilettantism , dilettantisms

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Etymology

origin and the way in which meanings have changed throughout history.

From the Italian word 'dilettare', meaning 'to delight' or 'to enjoy'.

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Trivia

Any details, considerations, events or pieces of information regarding the word

1. The term 'dilettante' is often used in a derogatory way to describe someone who is not serious about their pursuits.

2. In the world of classical music, a 'dilettante' is someone who plays an instrument but is not a professional musician.

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Related Concepts

informations on related concepts or terms closely associated with the word. Discuss semantic fields or domains that the word belongs to

1. amateur: Both 'dilettante' and 'amateur' refer to individuals who engage in an activity without being a professional, but 'dilettante' often implies a lack of seriousness or expertise, while 'amateur' can have a positive connotation of dedication and passion.

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Quotes

Quotes by authors and personalities

1. I recently spent a week in Alaska trying to learn how to be a mountaineer. I did not succeed very well, and the details are not very interesting. I finished the course (I was enrolled in a course) thinking that perhaps I am better off remaining a slightly-above-average mountain "dilettante". An occasional rock climber.

   - Jason Lee Steorts,{it}National Review{/it},18 Aug. 2008

2. Being a powerhouse herself in ways that make today's feminist superwomen look like "dilettantes", she inevitably clashed with star directors like Maurice Tourneur and Ernst Lubitsch.

   - Molly Haskell,{it}New York Times Book Review{/it},6 June 1999

3. Most of the articles published in Naval History reflect time-consuming research and investigation. The efforts are not the work of "dilettantes", but of professional and semiprofessional historians.

   - Michael M. Bergfeld,{it}Naval History{/it},July/August 1997

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Culture

Any cultural, historical, or symbolic significance of the word. Explore how the word has been used in literature, art, music, or other forms of expression.

The term 'dilettante' has been used in literature and art to describe individuals who are not professionals but have a deep appreciation and involvement in their chosen field. For example, in F. Scott Fitzgerald's novel 'Tender is the Night', the character Dick Diver is described as a 'dilettante' in his approach to life and relationships.

How to Memorize "dilettante"

1. visualize
   

   - Imagine a person who enjoys trying new things without being an expert in any of them.

2. associate
   

   - Associate the word 'dilettante' with the idea of someone who enjoys pursuing activities for pleasure rather than for financial gain or professional development.

3. mnemonics
   

   - Remember that 'dilettante' comes from the Italian word 'dilettare', which means 'to delight' or 'to enjoy'.

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