conversazione
Americannoun
noun
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of conversazione
First recorded in 1740–50; from Italian; literally, “conversation, meeting to hold a conversation”; see origin at conversation ( def. )
Explanation
A conversazione isn’t just a casual chat — it’s a lively, engaging, and intellectual conversation where people talk about art, literature, and culture. The word conversazione comes from the Italian word for "conversation" and originally referred to a social gathering centered around stimulating conversation. These events became popular in Europe during the 18th and 19th centuries as a way for intellectuals and artists to exchange ideas in an informal environment. Unlike casual small talk, a conversazione is about having meaningful discussions in a setting that encourages creativity and deep thinking.
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.
He has always been a fine painter of sociability, and the traditional genre of the conversazione fits his photocollage methods like a glove.
From Time Magazine Archive
Like many a tourist before & after, he found ample material for jokes in such things as French opera and royalty, nuns and pubs, Italian comedy and conversazione.
From Time Magazine Archive
“I go with you to this conversazione to-night,” she said.
From The Moving Finger by Oppenheim, E. Phillips (Edward Phillips)
Went to a dinner-party or two, theatres, to hear Dickens read, a concert, conversazione and receptions, seeing English society, or rather one class of it, and liking what I saw.
From Louisa May Alcott : Her Life, Letters, and Journals by Alcott, Louisa May
The Countess of Broadhem requests the pleasure of Lord Frank Vanecourt's company at a conversazione on Thursday the 22d, at nine o'clock.
From Piccadilly A Fragment of Contemporary Biography by Oliphant, Laurence
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.
