Amorin

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A small representation of Cupid, often shown as a chubby winged child in classical or Renaissance art
2. A figurine or painted image of the winged god of love, typically depicted as a naked, playful boy
3. An artistic depiction of Cupid, usually a plump infant with wings, found in sculpture, painting and decoration

Etymology: Italian "amore" means love, and "amorino" is its diminutive, meaning a little love or a small Cupid. The "-ino" ending shrinks the noun much as English "-let" or "-ling" does, so the name describes the god of love as a small child. Both words trace back to Latin "amor." The figure became a fixture of European art. Renaissance and Baroque painters and sculptors filled ceilings, garlands and tombs with plump, winged infants, and the Italian name for them stuck. Art historians still use the plural "amorini" for these chubby, bow-carrying Cupids, and "amorin" appears in English with the same sense.