ben trovato
[ ben truh-vah-toh; Italian ben traw-vah-taw ]
adjective
appropriate and characteristic even if untrue; happily invented or discovered.
Origin of ben trovato
1First recorded in 1770–75; from Italian: literally, “well found,” in full, Se non è vero, è molto ben trovato “If it isn’t true, it is very well found, happily invented,” a saying especially associated with Giordano Bruno, 16th-century Italian philosopher
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use ben trovato in a sentence
I can hardly help laughing at this myself; for, Se non e vero, ben trovato!
A Letter from Mr. Cibber to Mr. Pope | Colley CibberKwiatkowski told me a pretty story which se non vero is certainly ben trovato.
Frederick Chopin as a Man and Musician | Frederick NiecksHere is a delightful story of the present Bishop of London for you, which is molto ben trovato, at any rate.
The Story of My Life, volumes 4-6 | Augustus J. C. HareThe story as related by the English friar is very characteristic of the age, and, si non e vero e ben trovato.
Mexico, Aztec, Spanish and Republican Vol. 1 of 2 | Brantz MayerIf it were not true it was at least, as the Italians have it, ben trovato, and it was wonderful how well it bore thinking of.
Confidence | Henry James
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