risorgimento

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The Word of the Day for April 23 is:

risorgimento   \ree-zor-juh-MEN-toh\   noun
     1 often capitalized : the 19th century movement for Italian political unity
    *2 : a time of renewal or renaissance : revival

Example sentence: 
      Retailers hope the new biography and CD box set will spark a risorgimento 
of interest in the long-forgotten songwriter.

Did you know?
     During the period of the French Revolution and Napoleonic wars 
(1796-1815), the French dominated Italy and introduced many new reforms to the 
Italian states. After the wars, the states were restored to their former 
rulers, the Austrians, and took on a conservative character. In response, a 
number of secret societies arose as part of an ideological and literary 
movement in support of a united Italy free of foreign domination. This movement 
was given the name "Risorgimento," which literally translates from Italian as 
"rising again." Although most modern use of the term still refers to this 
movement, the word also has another broader meaning in English; it acquired its 
second sense ("revival") in the mid-20th century.

*Indicates the sense illustrated in the example sentence.




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