signorelli: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very LowFormal, Academic, Art Historical
Quick answer
What does “signorelli” mean?
A proper noun referring to the Italian Renaissance painter Luca Signorelli (c. 1445–1523), a notable figure in the Tuscan school of art.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A proper noun referring to the Italian Renaissance painter Luca Signorelli (c. 1445–1523), a notable figure in the Tuscan school of art.
Primarily refers to the historical artist himself, his body of work, or the artistic style associated with him. In psychoanalytic contexts, it is famously cited in Freud's work as an example of a parapraxis (the 'Signorelli' slip).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in usage or reference.
Connotations
Carries the same art historical or psychoanalytic connotations in both varieties.
Frequency
Extremely rare in everyday language for both; slightly more likely to be encountered in academic or art-related publications.
Grammar
How to Use “signorelli” in a Sentence
[proper noun as subject] (e.g., Signorelli painted...)[genitive/possessive] (e.g., Signorelli's frescoes)[object of preposition] (e.g., a lecture on Signorelli)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “signorelli” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- a Signorelli-esque quality to the figures
American English
- a Signorelli-like composition
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used in art history, Renaissance studies, and psychology (specifically psychoanalysis).
Everyday
Extremely rare, only in very specific conversations about art or Freudian slips.
Technical
Term of reference in art cataloguing and psychoanalytic literature.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “signorelli”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “signorelli”
- Misspelling as 'Signoreli', 'Signorely', or 'Seniorelli'.
- Mispronouncing the 'gn' as /gn/ instead of /nj/ (as in 'onion').
- Using it as a common noun.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is an Italian surname adopted into English as a proper noun to refer specifically to the painter Luca Signorelli.
Sigmund Freud described his own temporary inability to recall Signorelli's name in his 1901 book 'The Psychopathology of Everyday Life,' using it to illustrate the concept of repression and parapraxis (a 'Freudian slip').
Pronounce it as 'seen-yor-EL-lee'. The 'gn' is like the 'ny' in 'canyon'.
No, as it is a singular proper name referring to one person. You might refer to 'works by Signorelli' or 'paintings by the Signorelli workshop'.
A proper noun referring to the Italian Renaissance painter Luca Signorelli (c. 1445–1523), a notable figure in the Tuscan school of art.
Signorelli is usually formal, academic, art historical in register.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think 'SIR' in the middle: The Signore (Italian for 'sir' or 'lord') - elli. Luca Signorelli was a 'sir' of Renaissance painting.
Conceptual Metaphor
N/A as a proper noun. In Freudian context, it metaphorically represents a memory lapse or the mechanism of repression.
Practice
Quiz
In what field outside of art history is the name 'Signorelli' most famously cited?