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

But the story is at least ben trovato, and morally true enough to serve as an illustration.

From Among My Books First Series by Lowell, James Russell

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

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

If 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.

From Confidence by James, Henry

The smallest rudimentary knowledge would teach you to distinguish between the stories that are ben trovato and those that are not; their being true or false is not of the least consequence.

From The Doctor's Wife by Braddon, M. E. (Mary Elizabeth)