cin·que·cen·tist \ˌchiŋkwə̇ˈchentə̇st, ˌchēŋkwā-\noun (pluralcinquecentists \-ə̇s(t)s\ ; orcinquecentis·ti \-(ˌ)chenˈti(ˌ)stē\) Etymology: Italian cinquecentista, from cinquecento + -ista -ist 1.: an Italian of the cinquecento; usually: a poet or artist of this period 2.: a student of the art or literature of the cinquecento