ben trovato

American  

[ben truh-vah-toh, ben traw-vah-taw] / bɛn trəˈvɑ toʊ, bɛn trɔˈvɑ tɔ /

adjective

1. appropriate and characteristic even if untrue; happily invented or discovered.

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Etymology

Origin of ben trovato

First 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

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

ben trovato

A story is told of the Mirza's early life, of which it can only be said, Se non é vero é ben trovato.

From A Handbook to Agra and the Taj Sikandra, Fatehpur-Sikri and the Neighbourhood by Havell, E. B.

Never was any invention less ben trovato than that which used to describe Newman as pining after the 'incomparable liturgy' or the 'cultured society' of the Church of England.

From Res Judicat? Papers and Essays by Birrell, Augustine

Perhaps at points the romantic may infringe upon the historic, but: Se non e vero, E ben trovato.

From The Bay State Monthly — Volume 2, No. 5, February, 1885 by Various

Douglas Jerrold, in his well-known "Punch's Letters to his Son," gives an anecdote of which we can only say, si non è vero, è ben trovato.

From Umbrellas and Their History by Sangster, William

The details are filled in by a hand evidently well conversant with his subject, and everything is ben trovato, if not actually true.

From Nevermore by Bolderwood, Rolf