Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun A guide for sightseers.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • Same as ciceronize.
  • noun In Italy, one who acts as a guide in exhibiting and explaining antiquities, curiosities, etc.; hence, in general, one who explains the interesting features or associations or the curiosities of a place; a guide.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun One who shows strangers the curiosities of a place; a guide.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun A guide who shows people around tourist sights.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun a guide who conducts and informs sightseers

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[Italian, from Latin Cicerō, Cicerōn-, Marcus Tullius Cicero.]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From Italian cicerone, from Latin Cicero, the Roman orator.

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Examples

  • Derived from the ancient Roman orator and writer Marcus Tullius Cicero, “the word cicerone has been used in England for 400 years to indicate a knowledgeable and learned guide,” Daniels noted.

    Beer: Guides named for Cicero 2011

  • Mr. Henry, * my host and very able cicerone, is an American missionary, and as such carries with him the gospel of peace on earth and good will to men.

    The Golden Chersonese and the Way Thither Isabella Lucy 1883

  • All such questions became vital to Rachel Mott when NASA employed her to act as a kind of cicerone to the families of the six new astronauts.

    Space Michener, James 1982

  • I was looking up synonyms for ‘guide’ in a thesaurus when lo and behold, I saw the word ‘cicerone.’

    Beer: Guides named for Cicero 2011

  • The requirements to become a “certified cicerone” are more stringent.

    Beer: Guides named for Cicero 2011

  • As always, Chamberlain is that rare cicerone for the reader, displaying learning, empathy, and deep understanding on every page.

    Cover to Cover 2007

  • As always, Chamberlain is that rare cicerone for the reader, displaying learning, empathy, and deep understanding on every page.

    Cover to Cover 2007

  • Sir James; but though he was fortunate enough to find a zealous and well-informed cicerone in Mr. Thomas Haddow, and had every assistance from the kindness of Mr. Alexander Finlay, the resident

    Castle Dangerous 2008

  • A friend of the author, well acquainted with the circumstances of the battle, was standing near this large stone, and looking on the scene around, when a highland shepherd hurried down from the hill to offer his services as cicerone, and proceeded to inform him, that Dundee was slain at that stone, which was raised to his memory.

    The Abbot 2008

  • I sallied from Castle Treddles, determined to make the best of my way to Duntarkin, and my cicerone hung by me for a little way, giving loose to his love of talking — an opportunity which, situated as he was, the seneschal of a deserted castle, was not likely to occur frequently.

    Chronicles of the Canongate 2008

Comments

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  • "I had no convenient cicerone in the pattern of the Utopian books."

    H.G. Wells, The Time Machine

    December 17, 2008