morbidezza

English

Etymology

From Italian morbidezza.

Noun

morbidezza (uncountable)

1. Softness, smoothness; also in a negative sense, weakness, effeminacy.
   • 1603, John Florio, translating Michel de Montaigne, Essays, II.20:

     Yea, when we forge its image in hir excellencie, we deck it with epithets of sickish and dolorous qualities: languor, effeminacy, weaknesse, fainting and Morbidezza, a great testimony of their consanguinity and consubstantiality.

   (Can we find and add a quotation of Ludden to this entry?)

2. (art) A naturalistic delicacy in flesh tones.

Italian

Noun

morbidezza f (plural morbidezze)

1. softness, smoothness, tenderness, mellowness

Related terms

• morbido