contrapposto

English

Etymology

Borrowed from Italian contrapposto, past participle of contrapporre.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /kɒntɹəˈpɒstəʊ/

• Audio (Southern England):

  (file)

Noun

contrapposto (countable and uncountable, plural contrapposto or contrapposti)

1. (art) The position of a figure whose hips and legs are twisted away from the direction of the head and shoulders. [from 20th c.]
   • 1990, Camille Paglia, Sexual Personae:

     The contrapposto flexes one buttock and relaxes the other.

Italian

Etymology

From contra- +‎ posto.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /kon.trapˈpo.sto/, /kon.trapˈpɔ.sto/
• Rhymes: -osto, -ɔsto
• Hyphenation: con‧trap‧pó‧sto, con‧trap‧pò‧sto

Participle

contrapposto (feminine contrapposta, masculine plural contrapposti, feminine plural contrapposte)

1. past participle of contrapporre

Adjective

contrapposto (feminine contrapposta, masculine plural contrapposti, feminine plural contrapposte)

1. contrasting
2. opposing, opposed

Descendants

• → English: contrapposto
• → German: Kontrapost