Carbonari

[ kahr-buh-nahr-ee; Italian kahr-baw-nah-ree ]

plural noun

, European History.

, singular Car·bo·na·ro [kahr-b, uh, -, nahr, -oh, kah, r, -baw-, nah, -, r, aw].

1. the members of a secret political society in the early part of the 19th century, active in Italy, France, and Spain.

Carbonari

/ ˌkɑːbəˈnɑːrɪ /

plural noun

1. a secret political society with liberal republican aims, originating in S Italy about 1811 and particularly engaged in the struggle for Italian unification

Other Words From

• Carbo·narism noun
• Carbo·narist noun adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of Carbonari¹

1815–25; < Italian, plural of carbonaro charcoal burner < Latin carbōnār ( ius ), equivalent to carbōn- (stem of carbō ) charcoal + -ārius -ary

Word History and Origins

Origin of Carbonari¹

C19: from Italian, plural of carbonaro seller or burner of charcoal, name adopted by the society

Example Sentences

Although the revolt in 1820 tossed King Ferdinand off the throne, the Carbonari never amounted to much.

From The Daily Beast

This was because Napoleon, though a member of the Carbonari, had "gone back on" the order; but his life was spared.

From Project Gutenberg

But these were of course unknown to the great majority of Carbonari, who entered the association in all good faith.

From Project Gutenberg

I wonder now if you have heard of a secret organisation called the Carbonari?

From Project Gutenberg

And yet the duties of the Carbonari seem to have been precisely calculated for these lower strata.

From Project Gutenberg

Carbonari: the name of an Italian secret society which arose in 1820.

From Project Gutenberg