Pl. -oni rarely cicerones. [It. cicerone (:—L. Cicerō-nem), the name of the great Roman orator, Cicero; supposed to refer to his learning or eloquence. Cf. the use of Mentor. (But the historical origin is unknown; our English quotations are earlier than any given in the Italian Dicts.)]
A guide who shows and explains the antiquities or curiosities of a place to strangers.
(Apparently originally given to learned Italian antiquarians, whose services were sought by visitors seeking information about the antiquities of a place; subsequently usurped by the ordinary professional ‘guide.’) Also transf. to a ‘guide’ through a period of literature, etc.
1726. Addison, Dial. Medals, i. in Wks. 1727, III. 22 (L.). It surprized me to see my Ciceroni so well acquainted with the busts and statues of all the great people of antiquity.
17[?]. Pope, To Mr. Bethell-Ruffhead, in Life (1769), 299, note (L.). An army of Virtuosi, Medalists, Ciceroni, Royal Society-men, [etc.].
1762. trans. Busching’s Syst. Geog., III. 179. These fellows [guides up Vesuvius] are styled nothing less than Ciceroni, the proper title of learned antiquarians who show and explain to foreigners the antiquities and curiosities of the country.
1791. Newte, Tour Eng. & Scot., 237. One Christie, who is considered as the Cicerone and Antiquarian of Glen Almon.
1803. Eustace, Tour Italy (1813), I. Prelim. Dissert. p. lix. The common guides are lazy and interested, Cicerones are often ignorant.
1880. Lit. World, 24 Dec., 435/1. Those who desire a good and well-informed cicerone in the fields of general literature.
Hence Ciceronage, Ciceroneship, Ciceronism, the function or action of a cicerone; Ciceronize v. [F. cicéroniser], to act the cicerone (to).
(These are hardly more than nonce-words, and have no established pronunciation.)
1884. Ch. Bells, 716. Viewing the beauties of the building, under the ciceronage of one of the clergy.
1843. Mrs. Romer, Rhone, etc. II. 198. Some military friends who had obtained for us … the ciceroneship of an intelligent sergeant of artillery.
1853. Blackw. Mag., LXXIV. 289. Delighted to have the pretext of ciceronism to revisit all manner of queer haunts.
1832. Sarah Austin, trans. Tour Germ. Prince, II. xi. 196. The girl showed me three rooms … while she ciceronised in the following words.
1842. Blackie, in Tait’s Mag., IX. 747/1. Drill-masters…, and quacks … to Ciceronize the traveller in the several provinces of so wide a kingdom [of language].
