scalare

scalare¹ scalar; graded

Etymology tree of scalare¹

inherited borrowed derived

Latin scandō

English scan

Latin scāla

Italian scala

Spanish escala

English scale

Latin scālāris

English scalar

Italian scalare

From the same root · scalare¹

English scanner ← scandō

Latin ascendō ← scandō

Latin cōnscendō ← scandō

Latin dēscendō ← scandō

Latin escendō ← scandō

Latin īnscendō ← scandō

Latin scandula ← scandō

Latin scansiō ← scandō

Latin trānscendō ← scandō

Spanish descender ← scandō

Latin scālārium ← scāla

English scalable ← scale

English upscale ← scale

Pronunciation

• /skaˈla.re/^[1]

Forms

scalare m or f by sense (plural scalari)^[1]

Etymology

The word for “scalar” and “graded” is borrowed from Latin scālāris (“of a ladder or stairs”), formed from scālae (“flight of steps, ladder”).^{[2][3][4][1][5]} The Latin adjective is used by Vitruvius.^[6][7] DELI finds the old form scalario in F. Colonna in 1499 and the modern form in Cesariano in 1521;^{[2][4][3][8][6]} GRADIT dates it before 1527, Nocentini and Zingarelli give 1793, the date of the mathematical sense, and DEI the 19th century.^{[2][4][3][8][6]}

The Latin noun, a plural that became singular in Late Latin, belongs to the family of scandō (“to climb”), from Proto-Indo-European *skend-.^[2][3][1]

Earliest recorded meaning

In 1499 F. Colonna writes of posts fixed al modo scalario, in the manner of steps, and in 1521 Cesariano uses scalari of the stepped passages of the Roman theatre; the sense is “arranged like steps”.^[2][9]

Semantic evolution

The mathematical sense, a quantity defined by a single number, is recorded in 1793 in F. S. Camilli.^[2] In the 19th century Delfico calls a school system divided into successive grades scalare, and Tommaseo records interesse scalare, interest that falls as the debt is repaid.^[9][7] Modern physics and mathematics oppose scalare to vettoriale; banking uses it for a statement for working out the interest on a current account.^[4][10][8]

The name of the aquarium fish scalare, the angelfish, comes from its scientific name, Pterophyllum scalare.^[9][4]

Timeline

• 1499 – F. Colonna uses scalario “arranged like steps”.^[2][9]
• 1521 – Cesariano uses scalare.^[2]
• 1793 – F. S. Camilli uses scalare in mathematics.^[2]
• 1861 – Tommaseo records interesse scalare.^[7]

Meanings

Adjective

1. Arranged like a ladder or steps.^[4][11][10]
2. (figurative) Graded, rising or falling by steps: un rimborso scalare.^[4][12][10]
3. (finance) Paid in instalments that decrease progressively.^[4][13]
4. (mathematics, physics) scalar: of a quantity fully defined by a single number, as opposed to a vector: grandezza scalare.^[4][8][10]
5. (physics) Of a particle with zero spin.^[4][10]

Noun

1. (mathematics) A scalar quantity.^[8][11][1]
2. (banking) A statement for computing the interest on a current account.^[8][10][11]
3. (zoology) The angelfish, Pterophyllum scalare.^[4][9]

Word family

• scalarmente

scalare² to climb

Etymology tree of scalare²

inherited borrowed derived

Latin scandō

English scan

Latin scāla

Italian scala

Italian scalare

Spanish escala

English scale

From the same root · scalare²

English scanner ← scandō

Latin ascendō ← scandō

Latin cōnscendō ← scandō

Latin dēscendō ← scandō

Latin escendō ← scandō

Latin īnscendō ← scandō

Latin scandula ← scandō

Latin scansiō ← scandō

Latin trānscendō ← scandō

Spanish descender ← scandō

Latin scālāris ← scāla

Latin scālārium ← scāla

English scalable ← scale

English upscale ← scale

Pronunciation

• /skaˈla.re/^[1]

Forms

scalare (first-person singular present scàlo, first-person singular past historic scalài, past participle scalàto, auxiliary avére)^[1]

Etymology

The verb for “to climb” is formed from Italian scala + -are.^{[4][1][14][13]} The noun scala continues the Latin plural scālae (“flight of steps, ladder”), which became singular in Late Latin and belongs to the family of scandō (“to climb”).^[2][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The first record is in A. Pucci, before 1388, with the sense “to get to the top of a wall by ladders”: soldiers riding to Pescia by night iscalaro e salir per le mura (“scaled and climbed the walls”).^[2][9] DEI and Nocentini date the verb only to the 15th century, DEI citing Morelli's chronicle.^[6][3][7]

Semantic evolution

In the 15th and 16th centuries scalare is above all a term of siege warfare: Machiavelli writes that well-defended towns non si scalano, are not taken by scaling.^[7][9] DEI dates the sense “to diminish” to the 16th century, in Soderini.^[6] Mountaineering use is recorded in 1808, in Pananti, and the noun scalata “ascent” before 1803.^[2]

The senses “to deduct” and “to arrange in decreasing order” are dated 1872 in Tommaseo–Bellini; from the second come cutting hair in layers and changing down a gear.^[2][14] In finance scalare una società is to try to take control of a company by buying up its shares.^[8][12][11]

Timeline

• Before 1388 – A. Pucci uses scalare for scaling walls.^[2][9]
• 15th century – Morelli's chronicle uses the verb.^[6][7]
• 16th century – Soderini uses it for “to diminish”.^[6]
• 1614 – Scalata is recorded.^[2]
• Before 1803 – Scalata is used in mountaineering.^[2]
• 1808 – Pananti uses scalare in mountaineering.^[2]
• 1872 – Tommaseo–Bellini records “to deduct” and “to arrange in decreasing order”.^[2]

Meanings

Verb

1. To scale, to climb a wall or building with ladders or holds.^[4][11][10]
2. (mountaineering) To climb a mountain or a rock route: scalare il Monte Rosa.^[4][11][12]
3. (finance) To try to take control of a company by buying its shares.^[8][12][11]
4. To arrange in decreasing order; to cut hair in layers.^[4][11][12]
5. To move along one or more places in a row.^[4][12]
6. To deduct from a sum; to pay off a debt in instalments.^[4][8][1]
7. (motoring) To change down a gear.^[4][14]

Word family

• scalata
• scalatore
• scalabile