seicento: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowFormal/Academic
Quick answer
What does “seicento” mean?
The Italian 17th century, particularly as a period of art and literature.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The Italian 17th century, particularly as a period of art and literature.
The artistic and cultural style characteristic of 17th-century Italy, especially in painting, sculpture and architecture.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is identical in both varieties; no regional variation in meaning or usage.
Connotations
Scholarly, specialized, art-historical in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally rare in both British and American English, confined to art history and Italian studies.
Grammar
How to Use “seicento” in a Sentence
the seicentoduring the seicentoseicento + noun (e.g., seicento masterpiece)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “seicento” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The gallery specialises in seicento paintings.
American English
- The museum has an excellent seicento collection.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used
Academic
Used in art history, Italian studies, cultural history
Everyday
Rarely if ever used
Technical
Specific to art historical terminology
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “seicento”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “seicento”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “seicento”
- Using it for non-Italian contexts.
- Pronouncing /siːˈsentoʊ/ instead of /seɪˈtʃɛntoʊ/.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Rarely. It's a specialised term primarily used in art history, Italian studies, and cultural history.
In English, it's typically pronounced /seɪˈtʃɛntoʊ/ (say-CHEN-toh), approximating the Italian pronunciation.
Quattrocento (1400s), Cinquecento (1500s), Seicento (1600s), Settecento (1700s), Ottocento (1800s).
Yes, it can function as an adjective (e.g., seicento painting, seicento style).
The Italian 17th century, particularly as a period of art and literature.
Seicento is usually formal/academic in register.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “No specific idioms”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: SEI (six in Italian) + CENTO (hundred) = 600 = 1600s.
Conceptual Metaphor
TIME PERIOD AS CULTURAL STYLE
Practice
Quiz
What does 'seicento' specifically refer to?