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belvedere

a structure, such as a turret or summerhouse, positioned to command a fine view

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Where does the word "belvedere" come from? It comes from Italian bel vedere, and was adopted directly into English (1590s).

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Where does the word "belvedere" come from? It comes from Italian bel vedere, and was adopted directly into English (1590s).

Belvedere’s story begins in Italian: bel vedere meant “beautiful to see.” Literally beautiful to see, from bello (beautiful) and vedere (to see). It reached English by 1590s as belvedere. Italian 'beautiful view'; the Vatican's Belvedere courtyard housed the famous Apollo Belvedere statue. Today, belvedere means a structure, such as a turret or summerhouse, positioned to command a fine view.

  1. Stage 1 · Italian · 1500s bel vedere "beautiful to see", literally beautiful to see, from bello (beautiful) and vedere (to see).
  2. Stage 2 · English · 1590s belvedere "a structure built to command a fine view", Italian 'beautiful view'; the Vatican's Belvedere courtyard housed the famous Apollo Belvedere statue.

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