conversazione
Americannoun
noun
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected 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.
See Examples For:
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
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
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
This was followed by a conversazione in the parlor, in which the distinguished parties who had accompanied the Pope took part.
From Pius IX. And His Time by Dawson, Æneas MacDonell
His encounter with Pauline Marrabel at the conversazione had given him the keenest pleasure.
From The Moving Finger by Oppenheim, E. Phillips (Edward Phillips)
It was while he was teaching English at the University of Chicago that he met "Harriet," who kept alive the torch of culture by all-night literary conversaziones around a lakeshore bonfire.
From Time Magazine Archive
I hardly knew where the line was passed, between quiet conversaziones and brilliant and courtly assemblies.
From Daisy in the Field by Warner, Susan
After several conversaziones, with much discussion, we succeeded at length in “fixing” our plan.
From The Hunters' Feast Conversations Around the Camp Fire by Reid, Mayne
What a revelation to Venice these pictures were which began with Giorgione’s conversaziones!
From The Venetian School of Painting by Phillipps, Evelyn March
There, now; that's something that I can quite recommend; it's decidedly à la mode, worn by all the duchesses, countesses, baronesses, and lady mayoresses, at all the balls, routs, conversaziones, and concerts given this season!
From The Crown of Success by A. L. O. E.
In other cities the men alone have their Casino dei Nobili, where they give balls, conversazioni, and similar entertainments.
From At Home And Abroad Or, Things And Thoughts In America and Europe by Fuller, Arthur B.
In other cities, the men alone have their Casino dei Nobili, where they give balls and conversazioni.
From Memoirs of Margaret Fuller Ossoli, Volume II by Fuller, Margaret
He meets him daily on exchange and at the Casino, and he partakes of the hospitality of his conversazioni.
From Venetian Life by Howells, William Dean
At one time she invited Bronson Alcott, one of the leaders of a similar movement, to preside over some conversazioni in her parlours, where he could elucidate his favourite subject.
From Memories and Anecdotes by Sanborn, Kate
At some houses conversazioni are still held, and it is impossible that balls and parties should not now and then be given.
From Venetian Life 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.
