Amoretti

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A type of small, often delicate, Italian cake or cookie, typically made with almonds and sugar
2. A genre of lyrical poetry that expresses love, often focusing on themes of courtly love and romantic devotion
3. A term used to refer to playful or amorous sentiments, frequently evoked in romantic literary contexts

Etymology: Amoretti is the plural of "amoretto," an Italian diminutive of "amore," the word for love, so the name of the god Amore has been shrunk down into a small poem. The ending "-etto" makes a little or lesser version of its base, which is why a "amoretto" is a small love piece rather than a grand one. The plural form "amoretti" is the one English readers meet most often, borrowed along with the Italian sonnet tradition that gave these poems their name.