dilettante English · revision 2460

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /dɪlɪˈtænti/, /dɪləˈtɒnti/ ''(UK)''; /ˈdɪlɪˌtɑnt/, /ˈdɪlɪˌtænt/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|it|dilettante|t=lover of music or painting]],^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) the present participle of [[it|dilettare|t=to delight]],^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(Barnhart 1995) [[der|la|dēlectō|t=to delight, charm]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A lover of the fine arts, who pursues them for love rather than as a profession (1733).^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ At first the word had no negative tone and meant a devoted amateur.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) By contrast with the professional, it took on the pejorative sense “superficial, affected dabbler” in the late 18th century,^(Etymonline) and this is now the main meaning.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1733 – a lover of the fine arts.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)

+ * 1748 – first date given by Merriam-Webster.^(MW Collegiate)

+ * 1753 – adjective, characteristic of a dilettante.^(OED 1989)

+ * late 18th century – a superficial dabbler.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1835 – ''dilettantism''.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A person who takes up an art or subject superficially, for amusement; a dabbler.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A lover of the fine arts; a connoisseur.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)

+

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Superficial; amateurish.^(AHD)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[dilettantish]]

+ * [[dilettantism]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[delectable]]

+ * [[delight]]

+ * [[amateur]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ The word comes from Italian, not French, so its ''-ante'' ending is not feminine and it applies to anyone.^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}