[syn: dilettante, dilettantish, dilettanteish, sciolistic]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Dilettante \Dil`et*tan"te\, n.; pl. Dilettanti. [It., prop. p.
pr. of dillettare to take delight in, fr. L. delectare to
delight. See Delight, v. t.]
An admirer or lover of the fine arts; popularly, an amateur;
especially, one who follows an art or a branch of knowledge,
desultorily, or for amusement only.
[1913 Webster]
The true poet is not an eccentric creature, not a mere
artist living only for art, not a dreamer or a
dilettante, sipping the nectar of existence, while he
keeps aloof from its deeper interests. --J. C.
Shairp.
[1913 Webster]
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
dilettante
adj 1: showing frivolous or superficial interest; amateurish;
"his dilettantish efforts at painting" [syn:
dilettante, dilettantish, dilettanteish,
sciolistic]
n 1: an amateur who engages in an activity without serious
intentions and who pretends to have knowledge [syn:
dabbler, dilettante, sciolist]