Italianism

American  

[ih-tal-yuh-niz-uhm] / ɪˈtæl yəˌnɪz əm /

noun

1. an Italian practice, trait, or idiom.

2. Italian quality or spirit.

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Italianism British  

/ ɪˈtæljəˌnɪzəm, ɪˈtælɪˌsɪzəm /

noun

1. an Italian custom or style

2. Italian quality or life, or the cult of either

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Other Word Forms

• anti-Italianism noun
• pro-Italianism noun

Etymology

Origin of Italianism

First recorded in 1585–95; Italian + -ism

Example Sentences

Ah! the musty base Italianism and neo-Meyerbeerism, the filthy masses of sentiment which are borne on by the torrent!…

From Jean Christophe: in Paris The Market-Place, Antoinette, the House by Cannan, Gilbert

At any rate the poem contains the whole apparatus of nymphs and satyrs transplanted to Italian landscape and living a life of commingled Hellenism and Italianism.

From Some Forerunners of Italian Opera by Henderson, W. J. (William James)

I have no doubt that sçue is correct, and is an Italianism, saputo having sometimes the sense of prudent or judicious.

From The Travels of Marco Polo — Volume 1 by Yule, Henry

Lord O'Toole would by no means admit of this Italianism: he would make no distinctions: he deemed philosophers altogether a race of beings dangerous and inimical to states.

From Tales and Novels — Volume 04 by Edgeworth, Maria

The overture, with its hollow ring of gaiety, strikes the note of Italianism which echoes throughout the opera.

From The Opera A Sketch of the Development of Opera. With full Descriptions of all Works in the Modern Repertory. by Fuller-Maitland, J. A.