lavoro Italian · revision 37510

+ {{infobox|confidence=disputed|formation=inherited|attested=13th century, Mazzeo di Ricco|origins=la labor}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /laˈvo.ro/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''lavoro''' ''m'' (plural lavori)^(Wiktionary)

+ An old form is ''lavore''.^(DELI 1999)^(GDLI)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ DELI, Nocentini and GRADIT take it as [[inh|la|labor|t=toil, effort, work]], from the accusative ⟨labōrem⟩, with a change of declension.^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010)^(GRADIT 2003) DEI, Devoto, Devoto–Oli, Sabatini–Coletti, Treccani, Gabrielli and GDLI treat it instead as a noun formed in Italian from [[lavorare]], the verb that continues [[la|labōrō|t=to toil]];^(DEI|2188)^(Devoto 1968|255)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Treccani 2011)^(Gabrielli 2020)^(GDLI) Wiktionary does the same, adding that it may correspond to the Latin noun.^(Wiktionary) DELI itself notes that in Latin the relation between noun and verb may have run the other way.^(DELI 1999)

+

+ The Romance outcomes of the Latin noun mostly specialized in farm work: [[ca|llavor|t=seed]], [[es|labor]], [[pt|lavor|t=ploughing]] and [[sc|laore|t=wheat]], and [[scn|lavuri|t=standing grain]].^(Nocentini 2010)^(REW 1935) Elsewhere the ordinary word for “work” is of another origin, as in [[fr|travail]] and [[es|trabajo]], and within Italy ⟨lavorare⟩ is hemmed in by ⟨travagliare⟩ in parts of Piedmont and Liguria and on the islands and by ⟨faticare⟩ in most of the south.^(Körting 1907)^(DELI 1999)

+

+ The Latin noun, Old Latin [[m|la|labōs]], is of uncertain origin.^(Wiktionary)^(OLD 2012) It is often connected with [[m|la|labō|t=to totter]], as the burden under which one staggers, and Nocentini with [[m|la|lābor|t=to slip, fall]]; de Vaan finds the connection unconvincing.^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010)^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ GDLI's earliest quotation is Mazzeo di Ricco's “li mastri contrafare lo lavore” (masters [know how to] counterfeit the work), in the 13th century, with ''lavore'' meaning a piece of work, a product.^(GDLI)^(DELI 1999) The sense of productive activity in a trade is in the ''Rainardo e Lesengrino'' at the end of the 13th century.^(DELI 1999)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Dante uses the word for any accomplished work: in ''Paradiso'' 1 he asks Apollo's help “all'ultimo lavoro”, the last part of his poem.^(Tommaseo–Bellini 1861)^(DELI 1999) ''Lavori pubblici'' “public works” is in Machiavelli before 1527, and the place where one works in Vasari in 1550.^(DELI 1999) In early Sicilian poetry ''lavoro'' meant the growing wheat, as in Giacomo da Lentini's “lo meo lavoro spica e poi no 'ngrana” (my wheat comes into ear and then bears no grain).^(GDLI)

+

+ The plural for the proceedings of a body is recorded in 1808, and the sense “paid job” and the figurative “intrigue, scheme” in Tommaseo–Bellini (1869).^(DELI 1999) The physical sense, force times displacement, is in the ''Enciclopedia italiana'' in 1933.^(DELI 1999) ''Lavoro nero'' “undeclared work” appeared in the newspapers about 1978;^(DELI 1999) DELI matches it with French ''travail noir'', in use since the Second World War.^(DELI 1999)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 13th century – Mazzeo di Ricco uses ''lavore'' for a piece of work.^(GDLI)^(DELI 1999)

+ * End of the 13th century – ''Rainardo e Lesengrino'' uses it for productive activity.^(DELI 1999)

+ * Before 1527 – ''Lavori pubblici'' is recorded in Machiavelli.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1550 – Giorgio Vasari uses it for a workplace.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1808 – The plural is used for the proceedings of a body.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1869 – Tommaseo–Bellini records the senses “paid job” and “intrigue”.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1933 – The ''Enciclopedia italiana'' defines work in physics.^(DELI 1999)

+ * c. 1978 – ''Lavoro nero'' appears in the newspapers.^(DELI 1999)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # The use of energy towards an end, by a person, animal or machine; in [[m|en|physics]], the product of a force and the displacement of its point of application.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(DELI 1999)

+ # [[m|en|work]], human activity producing goods or services: ''il lavoro manuale stanca ma dà soddisfazione''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+ # A [[m|en|job]], paid occupation: ''sta cercando lavoro da mesi''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Gabrielli 2020)

+ # The place where one works: ''torno dal lavoro alle sette''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+ # A piece of work, the thing worked on or produced: ''un lavoro di ricamo''.^(Treccani 2011)^(DELI 1999)

+ # ''(plural)'' Works, construction; the proceedings of a body: ''lavori in corso''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(DELI 1999)

+ # ''(ironic)'' A mess, a botched job: ''guarda che lavoro hai fatto con la vernice!''.^(Devoto–Oli 2026)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[lavoretto]]

+ * [[lavoraccio]]

+ * [[superlavoro]]

+ * [[dopolavoro]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[lavorare]]

+ * [[lavoratore]]

+ * [[laborioso]]

+ * [[laboratorio]]

+ * [[la|labor]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Common expressions are ''mettersi al lavoro'' (to set to work), ''lavori forzati'' (hard labour), ''lavoro a maglia'' (knitting) and ''cavaliere del lavoro'' (an Italian honour for entrepreneurs).^(GRADIT 2003)^(Gabrielli 2020)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}