cicisbeo

English

Etymology

Italian cicisbeo

Noun

cicisbeo (plural cicisbeos or cicisbei)

1. (18th century) A knightly servant of a high-born lady.
2. A married woman's lover; a kept man.
   • 1957, Lawrence Durrell, Justine

     Of course a cicisbeo is a normal enough figure in Alexandrian life, but things are going to become socially very boring for you if you go out with those two so much.

Derived terms

• cicisbeism

Italian

Pronunciation

• IPA: /tʃi.tʃi.ˈzbɛ.o/, X-SAMPA: /tSi.tSi."zbE.o/
• Rhymes: -ɛo
• Hyphenation: ci‧ci‧sbè‧o

Noun

cicisbeo m (plural cicisbei)

1. A cicisbeo.