ridotto

ridotto

English

Etymology

Borrowed from Italian ridotto (foyer). Doublet of redoubt.

Pronunciation

  • (UK) IPA(key): /ɹɪˈdɒtəʊ/
  • (US) IPA(key): /ɹəˈdoʊtoʊ/

Noun

ridotto (plural ridottos or ridottoes or ridotti)

  1. (historical) A public ball, typically a masquerade, popular in the 18th century.
    • May 26, 1742, Horace Walpole, letter to Horace Mann
      There are to be ridottos at guinea tickets.
    • 1837, L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], “Another London Life”, in Ethel Churchill: Or, The Two Brides. [], volume I, London: Henry Colburn, [], →OCLC, page 172:
      Night came, with that increase of gaiety which has always been night's peculiar privilege—perhaps on the principle of contrast. Monday, it was the ridotto; Tuesday, the opera; Wednesday, Ranelagh; Thursday, the play; Friday, a ball; Saturday, a rout, or else a little of all these blended together.
  2. (music) An arrangement or abridgment of a piece from the full score.
    Synonym: reduction

Italian

Etymology

    From Latin reductus.

    Pronunciation

    • IPA(key): /riˈdot.to/
    • Rhymes: -otto
    • Hyphenation: ri‧dót‧to
    • Audio:(file)

    Adjective

    ridotto (feminine ridotta, masculine plural ridotti, feminine plural ridotte, superlative ridottissimo)

    1. reduced
      Synonym: piccolo
      spese ridottereduced expenses
      orario ridottopart-time working (literally, “reduced timetable”)
      ridotto alla disperazionereduced to desperation
    2. (by extension) adapted, abridged
      ridotto per il teatroadapted for the stage

    Noun

    ridotto m (plural ridotti)

    1. foyer (of a theatre)
    2. (military) fortress, redoubt

    Descendants

    • English: ridotto
    • French: redoute

    Participle

    ridotto (feminine ridotta, masculine plural ridotti, feminine plural ridotte)

    1. past participle of ridurre

    Anagrams