Pl. -oni, now usually -ones. Also in 8 -atione. [a. It. conversazione (in 16th c. -atione) conversation, assembly for conversation or social recreation.]
ǁ 1. In Italy, the name for an evening assembly for conversation, social recreation, and amusement (often described by travellers in the 18th c.).
1740. Gray, Lett. to his Mother, 19 March, in Poems 1775, 78. The diversions of a Florentine Lent are composed of a sermon in the morning, full of hell and the devil; a dinner at noon, full of fish and meager diet; and, in the evening, what is called a Conversazione, a sort of assembly at the principal people’s houses, full of I cannot tell what.
1753. Lady M. W. Montague, Lett. (1887), II. 243. I have often smiled to myself in viewing our assemblies (which they call conversations) at Lovere.
1754. A. Drummond, Trav., 41. These conversazione [at Florence] resemble our card-assemblies…. Some played at cards, some passed the time in conversation; others walked from place to place, [etc.].
1834. T. Medwin, Angler in Wales, II. 283. In most little towns in Italy good music; and conversaziones in all.
1866. Howells, Venet. Life, xx. 331. The conversazioni of the demi-monde where they say everything.
† 2. Introduced into England, and applied to the private assembly now known as an ‘At Home.’ (Occasionally anglicized as CONVERSATION, q.v.)
1777. Sheridan, Sch. Scand., I. i. The charade you made last night at Mrs. Drowzie’s conversazione.
1782. Mad. D’Arblay, Diary, 10 Nov. She is … foremost in collecting all extraordinary people to her London conversaziones.
1802. Mar. Edgeworth, Moral T. (1816), I. 206. She held a sort of conversazione at her house … frequented by all foreigners.
1823. Byron, Juan, XIII. cvii. With evening came the banquet and the wine: The conversazione; the duet.
3. From about the close of the 18th c. chiefly applied to assemblies of an intellectual character, in connection with literature, art, or science.
1792. A. Young, Trav. France, 238. In the evening to the conversazione of Signore Fabbroni, where I met Signore Pella, director of the gallery, [etc.]… It gave me pleasure to find, that the company did not assemble in order to converse on the trivial nonsense of common topics, like so many coteries in all countries.
1816. J. Gilchrist, Philos. Etym., 200. In the balls, concerts, and converzationes of polite literature.
a. 1845. Hood, Odes & Addr., To Kitchener, v. Oh, hast thou still those Conversazioni, Where learned visitors discoursed—and fed?
4. Now chiefly used for a soirée given by a learned body or society of arts, at which the society’s work is illustrated by the exhibition of specimens, experiments and demonstrations.
1834. Gentl. Mag., CIV. I. 208 (Architectural Society), Jan., 21. the members of this institution held their first Conversazione for the season at Exeter Hall, which was attended by 200 professors and amateurs of architecture.
1864. A. McKay, Hist. Kilmarnock (ed. 3), 276. The organizing of conversazioni for more familiar and popular addresses on scientific subjects.
