All 3 Uses of
dilettante
in
The Age of Innocence
- He had dawdled over his cigar because he was at heart a dilettante, and thinking over a pleasure to come often gave him a subtler satisfaction than its realisation.†
Chpt 1 *
- His conversation always made Archer take the measure of his own life, and feel how little it contained; but Winsett's, after all, contained still less, and though their common fund of intellectual interests and curiosities made their talks exhilarating, their exchange of views usually remained within the limits of a pensive dilettantism.†
Chpt 14
- He had done little in public life; he would always be by nature a contemplative and a dilettante; but he had had high things to contemplate, great things to delight in; and one great man's friendship to be his strength and pride.†
Chpt 34
Definition:
-
(dilettante) someone with an interest in a subject area, but without the knowledge or experience of a professionaleditor's notes: Dilettante is sometimes used derogatorily -- especially of someone wealthy who has no need to earn money in their field of interest.