condottiere

[ kawn-duh-tyair-ey, -tyair-ee; Italian kawn-dawt-tye-re ]

/ ˌkɔn dəˈtyɛər eɪ, -ˈtyɛər i; Italian ˌkɔn dɔtˈtyɛ rɛ /

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See synonyms for condottiere on Thesaurus.com

noun, plural con·dot·tie·ri

[kawn-duh-tyair-ee; Italian kawn-dawt-tye-ree]. /ˌkɔn dəˈtyɛər i; Italian ˌkɔn dɔtˈtyɛ ri/.

a leader of a private band of mercenary soldiers in Italy, especially in the 14th and 15th centuries.

any mercenary; soldier of fortune.

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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

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use condottiere in a sentence

There were even guilds of mercenaries, such as the Condottieri of Italy; and the Swiss were famous for their superior service.
Violence and the Labor Movement|Robert Hunter
These were mainly the bands of Greek condottieri, and even for their home-born troops Greek officers of renown were often engaged.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 17, Slice 2|Various
It was at that time the fashion for young noblemen to win fame for themselves by the life or trade of the condottieri.
The Story of Perugia|Margaret Symonds
The condottieri played a very important part in Italian history from the middle of the 13th to the middle of the 15th century.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 6, Slice 7|Various

The soldiers of the condottieri were almost entirely heavy armoured cavalry (men-at-arms).
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 6, Slice 7|Various

British Dictionary definitions for condottiere

condottiere

/ (ˌkɒndɒˈtjɛərɪ) /

noun plural -ri (-riː)

a commander or soldier in a professional mercenary company in Europe from the 13th to the 16th centuries

Word Origin for condottiere

C18: from Italian, from condotto leadership, from condurre to lead, from Latin condūcere; see conduct

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

condottiere

Origin of condottiere

Words related to condottiere

How to use condottiere in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for condottiere

Word Origin for condottiere