contrapposto

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. The position of a human figure whose hips and legs are twisted away from the direction of the head and shoulders; (countable) an instance of this.

Pronunciation

/ˌkɒntɹəˈpɒstəʊ/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-contrapposto.wav /ˌkɑntɹəˈpɑstoʊ/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Naomi Persephone Amethyst (NaomiAmethyst)-contrapposto.wav /ˌkɒntɹəˈpɒsti/ /ˌkɑntɹəˈpɑsti/

Word forms

contrapposto contrappostos contrapposti

Etymology

Borrowed from Italian contrapposto (“contrasting; opposing”, adjective), the past participle of contrapporre (“to set against, counter”), from Latin contrāpōnere, the present active infinitive of contrāpōnō (“to oppose; to place opposite”), from contrā (“against; contrary to”) + pōnō (“to place, put”). The plural form contrapposti is borrowed from Italian contrapposti, the masculine plural form of contrapposto.

Related words

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