ben trovato

American  

[ben truh-vah-toh, ben traw-vah-taw] / bɛn trəˈvɑ toʊ, bɛn trɔˈvɑ tɔ /

adjective

1. appropriate and characteristic even if untrue; happily invented or discovered.

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Etymology

Origin of ben trovato

First recorded in 1770–75; from Italian: literally, “well found,” in full, Se non è vero, è molto ben trovato “If it isn’t true, it is very well found, happily invented,” a saying especially associated with Giordano Bruno, 16th-century Italian philosopher

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

ben trovato

If it were not true it was at least, as the Italians have it, ben trovato, and it was wonderful how well it bore thinking of.

From Confidence by Henry James

Which, if it be not true, is ben trovato.

From Legends of Florence Collected from the People, First Series by Charles Godfrey Leland

Nay, I will even go farther and express a grave suspicion whether the Scotland of these bookish romances is not the daring imposture of a ben trovato.

From Baboo Jabberjee, B.A. by F. Anstey

Never was any invention less ben trovato than that which used to describe Newman as pining after the 'incomparable liturgy' or the 'cultured society' of the Church of England.

From Res Judicat? Papers and Essays by Augustine Birrell

Possibly this anecdote is of the "ben trovato" order.—E.

From Charles Lever, His Life in His Letters, Vol. II by Edmund Downey