Main Entry: dil·et·tante

Pronunciation: \ˈdi-lə-ˌtänt, -ˌtant; ˌdi-lə-ˈ\

Function: noun

Inflected Form(s): plural dil·et·tantes or dil·et·tan·ti \-ˈtän-tē, -ˈtan-tē\

Etymology: Italian, from present participle of dilettare to delight, from Latin dilectare — more at delight

Date: 1748

1 : an admirer or lover of the arts
2 : a person having a superficial interest in an art or a branch of knowledge : dabbler

synonyms see amateur

— dilettante adjective

— dil·et·tant·ish \-ˌtän-tish, -ˌtan-, ˌdi-lə-ˈ\ adjective

— dil·et·tan·tism \-ˌtän-ˌti-zəm, -ˌtan-, ˌdi-lə-ˈ\ noun