cinquecento

noun

cin·​que·​cen·​to ˌchiŋ-kwi-ˈchen-(ˌ)tō How to pronounce cinquecento (audio)
: the 16th century especially in Italian art and literature

Word History

Etymology

Italian, literally, five hundred, from cinque five (from Latin quinque) + cento hundred, from Latin centum — more at hundred

First Known Use

1760, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of cinquecento was in 1760

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Cinquecento.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cinquecento. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.

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