legato

legato¹ tied

Pronunciation

• /leˈɡa.to/^[4]

Forms

legato (feminine legata, masculine plural legati, feminine plural legate, superlative legatissimo)^[4]

Etymology

The participle is inherited from Latin ligātus (“tied, bound”), the past participle of ligō (“to tie, bind”), which became legare.^[1][2][4] The verb is pan-Romance: French lier, Occitan liar, Catalan lligar, Spanish liar, Portuguese liar, Sardinian liare and Romanian lega.^[2]

The simple Latin verb is not recorded before Catullus, the earlier texts having only compounds such as alligō and obligō.^[5] Its cognates are few: de Vaan accepts only Albanian lidh (“to tie”) and starts from a possible Proto-Indo-European *leyǵ- (“to tie”),^[5] while Nocentini also compares Old Norse lik (“cord”) and Old Irish liog (“sinew”).^[2]

Earliest recorded meaning

Nocentini dates the participle to the second quarter of the 13th century.^[2] DELI's first record is in the sermons of Giordano da Pisa (1305), in the sense “joined, bound together”.^[1]

Semantic evolution

The figurative sense “awkward, lacking ease”, as of movements or speech, is in Torquato Tasso (1580).^[1] The adjective also means attached by affection or interest, bound by obligations, and connected;^[6][7][8] avere le mani legate is to be unable to act freely.^[6][7][8] Of a book it means bound and of a gem set in metal.^[9][7]

In music ligata is recorded in 1492 and legato, of notes played without a break between them, before 1590; the noun follows in 1778.^[10] DELI's first record of the musical term is from 1846.^[1] The term passed into French (1703), German (1732) and English (1786).^[10]

Timeline

• Second quarter of the 13th century – The participle is first recorded.^[2]
• 1305 – Giordano da Pisa uses legato for “bound together”.^[1]
• 1492 – Musical ligata is recorded.^[10]
• 1580 – Tasso uses it for “stiff, awkward”.^[1]
• Before 1590 – The musical adjective legato is recorded.^[10]
• 1703 – French borrows the musical term.^[10]
• 1778 – The musical noun is recorded.^[10]
• 1786 – English legato is first recorded.^[10]

Meanings

Adjective

1. tied, bound, fastened: Il cane era legato al cancello.^[8][9][7]
2. (figurative) Bound by obligations or conditions, avere le mani legate, to be unable to act freely.^[8][6][7]
3. (figurative) attached, close: È molto legato ai nonni.^[8][9][6]
4. Connected, linked: un aumento dei prezzi legato al costo dell'energia.^[6][4]
5. Stiff, awkward, lacking ease: Mi sento legato nei movimenti con questa giacca.^[8][9][4]
6. Of a book, bound; of a gem, set: un rubino legato in argento.^[8][9][7]
7. (music) Of notes, played without a break between them.^[9][7][10]

Noun

1. (music) legato, a smooth, unbroken way of playing.^[6][11][10]

legato² legate

Etymology tree of legato²

inherited borrowed derived

Latin legatus

Italian legato

Pronunciation

• /leˈɡa.to/^[4]

Forms

legato m (plural legati)^[4]

Etymology

The legate is borrowed from Latin lēgātus (“envoy, deputy”), a learned word.^[1][2][3][4] The Latin noun is the past participle of lēgō (“to send as envoy; to bequeath”), from its sense “to entrust someone with a task”.^[1][2] Latin used it for the Pope's envoys from the 4th century.^[12] Compare French légat (12th century) and Spanish legado.^[2][12]

All the senses of lēgō and of its compounds involve a task or assignment, so it is explained from Latin lēx (“law”), perhaps first a “collection” of rules.^[5][2]

Earliest recorded meaning

DELI's first record is in the Detto d'Amore (13th century), for a representative of the Holy See to a foreign government.^[1]

Semantic evolution

Dante used the word for an ambassador in general (1304–1308).^[1] For the ancient Roman office a 14th-century Libro dei fioretti della Bibbia explains it: “uno legato, cioè uno ambasciatore con grande balia”, a legate, that is, an ambassador with great powers.^[1][13] A cardinal legate governed each of the provinces of the Papal States, called legazioni.^[9][11] The adjective legatizio is recorded from 1869.^[1]

Timeline

• 13th century – The Detto d'Amore uses legato for a papal envoy.^[1]
• 1304–1308 – Dante uses it for an ambassador.^[1]
• 14th century – The Libro dei fioretti della Bibbia uses it for a Roman envoy.^[1]
• 1550 – Paolo Giovio uses it as an adjective.^[1]
• 1869 – Legatizio is recorded.^[1]

Meanings

Noun

1. (history) In ancient Rome, an envoy of the senate or emperor, a provincial governor's deputy, or a general's lieutenant.^[3][9][7]
2. (history) An envoy or ambassador of a state or ruler on a temporary mission.^[3][8][7]
3. A papal legate: legato pontificio.^[3][9][6]

Word family

• legatizio

legato³ bequest

Etymology tree of legato³

inherited borrowed derived

Latin legatum

Italian legato

Pronunciation

• /leˈɡa.to/^[4]

Forms

legato m (plural legati)^[4]

Etymology

The bequest is borrowed from Latin lēgātum (“legacy, bequest”), a learned word from Roman law: the neuter past participle, used as a noun, of the verb meaning “to leave by will”.^[1][2][3][4] DELI explains that verb as “to dispose according to the law”, from Latin lēx (“law”).^[1] The jurist Ulpian defined the Latin term as “quod legis modo, id est imperative, testamento relinquitur”, what is left by will in the manner of a law, that is, as a command.^[13] Compare Spanish legado and Portuguese legado.^[12]

Earliest recorded meaning

The first record is from 1286, in the spelling leghato.^[1][3] Giovanni Villani (before 1348) writes of a testator who, among his other legati, left six deniers to every poor man.^[1][13]

Semantic evolution

The related verb legare “to bequeath” is recorded in a Venetian will of 1321 and in Matteo Villani (before 1363), and legatario, the person who receives a bequest, before 1396.^[1] Law distinguishes kinds such as the legato pio, for religious or charitable purposes, and the legato alimentario.^[3][14] In literary use the word also means a heritage handed down.^[6]

Timeline

• 1286 – Leghato “bequest” is recorded.^[1]
• 1321 – The verb legare “to bequeath” appears in a Venetian will.^[1]
• Before 1348 – Giovanni Villani uses legati.^[1]
• Before 1396 – Legatario is recorded.^[1]

Meanings

Noun

1. (law) A bequest, a provision in a will that leaves a particular asset to someone other than the heir; also the asset itself.^[3][6][7]
2. (literary, figurative) A legacy, heritage.^[6]