top definitions
quizzes
examples
explore dictionary

morbidezza

[ mawr-bi-det-suh; Italian mawr-bee-det-tsah ]

/ ˌmɔr bɪˈdɛt sə; Italian mɔr biˈdɛt tsɑ /

noun Fine Arts.

the effect of extreme softness and delicacy in pictorial and sculptural representations.

QUIZZES

Can You Remember Your Favorite Words Of The Day From March?

Even if you’re a habitué of Word of the Day, you haven’t seen our March words in these ways! Challenge yourself to our comprehensive quiz!

Question 1 of 15

What does "habitué" mean?

a person who is especially competent to pass critical judgments in an art, particularly one of the fine arts, or in matters of taste.

a frequent or habitual visitor to a place.

a lazy person who stays in bed long after the usual time for arising.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of morbidezza

1615–25; < Italian, equivalent to morbid(o) delicate (see morbid) + -ezza -ice

Words nearby morbidezza

moray firth, morazán, morbid, morbid anatomy, morbid obesity, morbidezza, morbidity, morbidity rate, morbific, morbihan, morbilli

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for morbidezza

This morbidezza of the spirit the Mahometans call Kef; the Christians, pious ecstasy.
Visionaries|James Huneker
Was love ever painted with more truth and 'morbidezza' than in the ninth book?
The PG Edition of Chesterfield's Letters to His Son|The Earl of Chesterfield
They blend the morbidezza of the senses with a rare feeling for natural and artistic beauty.
Renaissance in Italy: Italian Literature|John Addington Symonds
Morbidezza, mor-bi-det′za, n. that quality of flesh-painting which gives the impression of life.
Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 2 of 4: E-M)|Various

The colouring was more soft and Roman, with the dull gleam of pearls, a distinguished pallor, morbidezza.
The Prose Writings of Heinrich Heine|Heinrich Heine

Test
Your
Word IQ! Play Now