May 9, 2006 15:18
18 yrs ago
Italian term
cicisbeo, meno male
Italian to English
Art/Literary
Poetry & Literature
the man (prince) has been having an affair and wants his wife (anna), at least, to flirt and hang around with other gentlemen.
actually, there is such a gentlemen (sir charles):
"he (charles) and anna had been going everywhere for years. at home she was teased about sir charles. anna has become acclimatized, the prince would say, she has taken a cicisbeo, meno male."
actually, there is such a gentlemen (sir charles):
"he (charles) and anna had been going everywhere for years. at home she was teased about sir charles. anna has become acclimatized, the prince would say, she has taken a cicisbeo, meno male."
Proposed translations
(English)
Proposed translations
4 hrs
Vittorio Preite
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
Native in Italian
United Kingdom
Two cultures. One life
Native in: Italian 
Works in: English to Italian, Italian to English
Related KudoZ points
:
10
Italian term (edited):
cicisbeo, at last
Selected
confidant, thank goodness
she has taken a man confidant, at last.
This figure: cicisbeo, now a term of derision, was a society role in the baroque period. It was usually an up and coming young man who accompanied a lady, married or unmarrried, usually older, everyhere. It was a sort of escort during outings and a companion during society receptions. The husband, when there was one, was busy with other pursuits. (Let your imagination go wild here), he was also known as " cavalier servente".
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Note added at 4 hrs (2006-05-09 19:39:44 GMT)
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this reply has got mixed up. It should read:
a man confidant, at last.
This figure: cicisbeo, now a term of derision, was a society role in the baroque period. It was usually an up and coming young man who accompanied a lady, married or unmarrried, usually older, everyhere. It was a sort of escort during outings and a companion during society receptions. The husband, when there was one, was busy with other pursuits. (Let your imagination go wild here), he was also known as " cavalier servente".
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Note added at 4 hrs (2006-05-09 19:39:44 GMT)
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this reply has got mixed up. It should read:
a man confidant, at last.
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "thanx"
12 mins
a man friend / a gallant - no harm done
also: a family friend but hardly applying in this context
+6
14 mins
Vanessa Rivera Rivier
Italy
Italy
Native in English
Works in field
Italy
Native in: Spanish (Variant: Puerto Rican) 
, English (Variant: US)
Works in: Italian to English, Spanish to English, Italian to Spanish, and 1 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
4
lover/ladies' man-thank goodness/thank god
Dal Garzanti:
Lemma cicisbeo
Traduzione s.m.
1 (st.) cicisbeo*
2 (estens.) (damerino) gallant, ladies' man.
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Note added at 5 hrs (2006-05-09 21:11:46 GMT)
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I think that after a couple of comments that have been posted here I should defend myself. The truth of the matter is that yes it is true, cicisbeo is not necessarily a lover (though it very well could be). Given the fact that our colleague (vitaminBcomplex) does not say a)if it's a period piece belonging to the Settecento or to any other period for that matter and that b) he says that the husband (prince) wants Anna to flirt with another man, that led me to believe that it could be a lover, or any other title you might want to give of a flirtatious nature. Why would she get a cicisbeo that according to the Settecento was: "In origine, il cicisbeo è colui che viene designato dalla famiglia per proteggere la dama sposata dalle insidie dei malintenzionati, e viene scelto tra parenti ed amici, anche di una certa età. Con la decadenza dei costumi, propria dell'alta società, questa figura cambia, divenendo molto più frivola. Le dame si accompagnano quindi con i loro cicisbei, andando a far visita alle amiche o la sera, alle eleganti riunioni della nobiltà, in cui la dama può trovarsi a giocare con il cicisbeo, ma mai con il marito, occupato a sua volta a corteggiare un'altra dama. Era quindi il cavalier servente a vegliare sulla dama o a gettarle occhiate d'intesa durante la serata" if her husband wants her to flirt? Thank you
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Note added at 5 hrs (2006-05-09 21:13:30 GMT)
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I'm sticking with the lover meaning of cicisbeo...
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Kim Metzger
10 mins
|
| agree |
P.L.F. Persio
: good, also escort of a married woman (Collins English Dictionary)
40 mins
|
| agree |
silvia b (X)
51 mins
|
| agree |
wordsworldwi (X)
: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cicisbeo
1 hr
|
| disagree |
Vittorio Felaco
: In the 700 a cisbeo was awarded to a woman as a right of nobility, not always of spirit - as hard as it may be for one to imagine, it hardly ever allowed for sexual contact as we think of it today. Today too few people read Parini's Il giorno.
2 hrs
|
| agree |
Anna Strowe
2 hrs
|
| agree |
Romanian Translator (X)
3 hrs
|
| neutral |
Vittorio Preite
: Put the dictionary down and read some period literature.
4 hrs
|
| agree |
Federica Masante
: Vittorio Preite, there could have been much nicer ways of putting it...
17 hrs
|
+1
7 hrs
a gentleman friend / escort, thank goodness / thank heavens
I find these expressions have the same connotations and possible implications of the Italian expression. "Genteman" instead of "man" or "male" sounds more appropriate in this context, IMHO.
alternatives:
... a cavalier (which would keep the original connotations of "cicisbeo")
... a male chaperon (same meaning, but more contemporary)
alternatives:
... a cavalier (which would keep the original connotations of "cicisbeo")
... a male chaperon (same meaning, but more contemporary)
25 mins
toyboy, thank goodness
Toyboy (or boytoy) is a little more colloquial.
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Note added at 8 hrs (2006-05-09 23:59:07 GMT)
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Well, yeah it is contemporary but the modern meaning of cicisbeo is lover or "close" escort and a toyboy is just that, a lover or "close" escort, in particular for a married older woman. If this is an 18th century setting then I would keep the word [i]Cicisbeo[/i] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cicisbeo).
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Note added at 8 hrs (2006-05-09 23:59:07 GMT)
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Well, yeah it is contemporary but the modern meaning of cicisbeo is lover or "close" escort and a toyboy is just that, a lover or "close" escort, in particular for a married older woman. If this is an 18th century setting then I would keep the word [i]Cicisbeo[/i] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cicisbeo).
Peer comment(s):
| disagree |
Vittorio Felaco
: Much too contemporary; misses most of the nuances.
1 hr
|
| agree |
Romanian Translator (X)
: nevertheless I like it and it does fit the context!
3 hrs
|
|
thx
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