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 ridotte ― reduced expenses

   orario ridotto ― part-time working (literally, “reduced timetable”)

   ridotto alla disperazione ― reduced to desperation

2. (by extension) adapted, abridged

   ridotto per il teatro ― adapted for the stage

Noun

ridotto m (plural ridotti)

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

Related terms

• ridurre
• ridotta

Descendants

• → English: ridotto
• → French: redoute
  • → English: redoubt
  • → German: Redoute

Participle

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

1. past participle of ridurre

Anagrams

• Dottori, dirotto, dirottò, dottori