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dilettantism

 - 2 dictionary results

dil⋅et⋅tant⋅ism

  [dil-i-tahn-tiz-uhm, -tan-]
Use dilettantism in a Sentence
–noun
the practices or characteristics of a dilettante.
Also, dil⋅et⋅tan⋅te⋅ism  [dil-i-tahn-tee-iz-uhm, -tan-] .

Origin:
1800–10; dilettante + -ism
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To dilettantism
dil·et·tante   (dĭl'ĭ-tänt', dĭl'ĭ-tänt', -tän'tē, -tānt', -tān'tē)   
n.   pl. dil·et·tantes also dil·et·tan·ti (-tän'tē, -tān'-)

  1. A dabbler in an art or a field of knowledge. See Synonyms at amateur.

  2. A lover of the fine arts; a connoisseur.

adj.  Superficial; amateurish.

[Italian, lover of the arts, from present participle of dilettare, to delight, from Latin dēlectāre; see delight.]
dil'et·tan'tish adj., dil'et·tan'tism n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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