Cicerone

noun, verb

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    A guide who accompanies visitors and sightseers to museums, galleries, etc., and explains matters of archaeological, antiquarian, historic or artistic interest.

    "East, still doing the cicerone, pointed out all the remarkable characters to Tom as they passed[…]"

  2. 2
    a guide who conducts and informs sightseers wordnet
Verb
  1. 1
    To show (somebody) the sights, acting as a tourist guide. ambitransitive, archaic

    "Accordingly, as three o'clock struck, six dashing-looking light dragoons were seen slowly sauntering up the dining-hall, escorted by Webber, who, in full academic costume, was leisurely ciceroning his friends and expatiating upon the excellences of the very remarkable portraits which graced the walls."

Etymology

Etymology 1

1726, from Italian cicerone (surface analysis cicero + -one (augmentative)), from Latin Cicerōnem, form of Cicerō, agnomen of Marcus Tullius Cicero), the Roman orator, from cicer (“chickpea”) from Proto-Indo-European *ḱiker- (“pea”). Possibly humorous reference to loquaciousness of guides.

Etymology 2

1726, from Italian cicerone (surface analysis cicero + -one (augmentative)), from Latin Cicerōnem, form of Cicerō, agnomen of Marcus Tullius Cicero), the Roman orator, from cicer (“chickpea”) from Proto-Indo-European *ḱiker- (“pea”). Possibly humorous reference to loquaciousness of guides.

Next best steps

Mini challenge

Unscramble this word: cicerone