1. plural of cicisbeo; married women’s male companions or escorts in 18th-century Italian society
Usage: historical; Italian origin

Examples

• The Italian aristocrats were accompanied by their cicisbeos to the opera.
• In 18th-century Venice, cicisbeos were a common sight at social gatherings.
• The practice of having cicisbeos was widely accepted among the upper classes.
• These cicisbeos served as platonic companions to married noblewomen.
• The custom of cicisbeos reflected the social conventions of the time.
• Many cicisbeos were young men from respectable families.