condottiere
Americannoun
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a leader of a private band of mercenary soldiers in Italy, especially in the 14th and 15th centuries.
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any mercenary; soldier of fortune.
noun
Etymology
Origin of condottiere
1785–95; < Italian, equivalent to condott ( o ) (< Latin conductus hired man, past participle of condūcere to conduce; see conduct) + -iere < Latin -ārius -ary
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Cosimo dei Medici now allied himself with the great condottiere, Francesco Sforza, and aided him with money to make good his claims upon the Duchy of Milan.
From The Story of Florence by Gardner, Edmund G.
He forgets that he is in the eternal world, and dips for the moment into a brawl in some Italian market-place, or into the council-chamber of some factious condottiere.
From Three Philosophical Poets Lucretius, Dante, and Goethe by Santayana, George
Adjoining the east porch is the Capella Colleoni, the mausoleum of Bartolommeo Colleoni the celebrated condottiere of the fifteenth century, whose equestrian statue in front of the church of SS.
From Cathedral Cities of Italy by Collins, William Wiehe
For fighting blood ran in the veins of the Lady of Forl�, she being the grand-daughter of the great condottiere Francesco Sforza.
From Romance of Roman Villas (The Renaissance) by Champney, Elizabeth W. (Elizabeth Williams)
He's a species of condottiere; we can buy his allegiance with his service: and we must forego the sentimental objection.
From The Quality of Mercy by Howells, William Dean
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
