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divertissement

 - 4 dictionary results

di⋅ver⋅tisse⋅ment

  [di-vur-tis-muhnt; Fr. dee-ver-tees-mahn]
Use divertissement in a Sentence
–noun, plural -ments  [-muhnts; Fr. -mahn] .
1. a diversion or entertainment.
2. Music. divertimento.
3. a short ballet or other performance serving as an interlude in a play, opera, etc.
4. a program consisting of such performances.
Origin:
1720–30; < F, equiv. to divertisse- (s. of divertir to divert ) + -ment -ment

di⋅ver⋅ti⋅men⋅to

  [di-vur-tuh-men-toh; It. dee-ver-tee-men-taw]
–noun, plural -tos, -ti  [-tee] . Music.
an instrumental composition in several movements, light and diverting in character, similar to a serenade.
Also called divertissement.

Origin:
1750–60; < It, equiv. to diverti(re) to divert + -mento -ment
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To divertissement
di·ver·ti·men·to   (dĭ-věr'tə-měn'tō)   
n.   pl. di·ver·ti·men·tos or di·ver·ti·men·ti (-tē)
A chiefly 18th-century form of instrumental chamber music having several short movements. Also called divertissement.

[Italian, from divertire, to divert, from Old French divertir; see divert.]
di·ver·tisse·ment   (də-vûr'tĭs-mənt, dē-věr-tēs-mäɴ')   
n.  

  1. A short performance, typically a ballet, that is presented as an interlude in an opera or play.

  2. Music See divertimento.

  3. A diversion; an amusement.


[French, from divertir, to divert, from Old French; see divert.]
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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