Definition of ben trovato in English:
ben trovato
adjective ˌbɛn trə(ʊ)ˈvɑːtəʊ
(of an anecdote) invented but plausible.
the saying attributed to him is probably apocryphal, but ben trovato
Example sentencesExamples
- ‘As the Italians say, ‘Se non vero, e ben trovato’ - if it isn't true, it's such a good story that it ought to be.
- As with heritage, life histories become coherent and credible only by invention, often in defiance of known fact. They persuade us not as vero but ben trovato.
- When reading a manuscript from 1875 the Italian proverb ‘sinon e vero, e ben trovato’ was cited.
- "After all, said she to herself, though it was not absolutely true, it was ben trovato, it was as near the truth, perhaps, as possible".
- I cannot ask you to accept my conjectures after all of my warnings at the outset of this paper, but will be content if you say ‘Si non è vero, è ben trovato,’ ‘If it isn't true, it's well contrived.’
Origin
Italian, literally 'well found'.