cicisbeo

• One of the most interesting volumes of this kind was written by a Mrs. Piozzi, the English wife of an Italian, who had unusual opportunities for a close observation of social conditions; several of the following paragraphs are based upon her experiences The most striking thing in the social life of this time is the domestic arrangement whereby every married woman was supposed to have at her beck and call, in addition to her husband, another cavalier, who was known as a cicisbeo and was the natural successor of the Florentine cavaliere before mentioned. —  Women of the Romance Countries
• In the tournament her chosen knight-cicisbeo came forth with his coat, his housings, his very lance distinguished with the cyphers and colours of her who had condescended to invest him with her preference. —  The Wits and Beaux of Society Volume 1
• The vice-legate and all the other vices, were as polite as could be;--and I, who had acted on the reserve, was fairly obliged to take the lady under my arm, and look as much like a cicisbeo as I could on so short a notice,--to say nothing of the embarrassment of a cocked hat and sword, much more formidable to me than ever it will be to the enemy I write in great haste--do you answer as hastily. —  Life of Lord Byron, Vol. 4 (of 6) With His Letters and Journals
• She has taken a vast palace and a vast garden, which is vastly commode, especially to the cicisbeo-part of mankind, who have free indulgence to wander in pairs about the arbours. —  Letters of Horace Walpole — Volume I
• The cicisbeo is a bony cartilaginous gentleman, fixt perpendicularly on his saddle like a telegraph-pole. —  Seeing Europe with Famous Authors, Volume 4 France and the Netherlands, Part 2

Allen's Synonyms and Antonyms