cicisbeo

American  

[chee-chiz-bey-oh, si-sis-bee-oh, chee-cheez-be-oh] / ˌtʃi tʃɪzˈbeɪ oʊ, sɪˈsɪs biˌoʊ, ˌtʃi tʃizˈbɛ oʊ /

noun

cicisbei plural

1. an escort or lover of a married woman.

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cicisbeo British  

/ tʃitʃizˈbɛːo /

noun

1. the escort or lover of a married woman, esp in 18th-century Italy

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• cicisbei
  plural

Etymology

Origin of cicisbeo

From Italian

Example Sentences

The cicisbeo, or gentleman usher to a lady; from the French.

From 1811 Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue by Grose, Francis

Heretofore, he had shunned everything that could secure for him the reputation of a cicisbeo.

From Jessamine A Novel by Harland, Marion

Before Smollett and his almost contemporary travel correspondent, Samuel Sharp, it would probably be hard to find any mention of the cicisbeo in England, though the word was consecrated by Sheridan a few years later.

From Travels through France and Italy by Smollett, T. (Tobias)

Father Andrea, who was of Florentine birth, would go with them; and with such a cicisbeo, they would see and understand all the treasures of the past and the present, antique and modern art.

From London Pride Or When the World Was Younger by Braddon, M. E. (Mary Elizabeth)

These girls as a rule, were married early to men of their own standing, and though the cicisbeo was not unknown after marriage he was not an authorised member of the household.

From The Valley of Decision by Wharton, Edith