favore Italian · revision 37625

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=13th century, Girardo Patecchio|origins=la faveō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /faˈvo.re/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''favore''' ''m'' (plural favori)^(Wiktionary)

+ Old Italian also had ''faore'' and a feminine plural ''favora''.^(GDLI) Northern texts have ''favor''.^(TLIO)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is a learned word, [[bor|la|favor|t=goodwill, support]], from [[m|la|faveō|t=to be favourably inclined]].^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010)^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(DEI|1609) The same Latin noun gave [[fr|faveur]], [[es|favor]] and [[pt|favor]].^(Nocentini 2010)^(Körting 1907)

+

+ The origin of the Latin verb is uncertain.^(DELI 1999) Nocentini takes it as a variant of [[m|la|foveō|t=to warm]], the warmth of the sun being what makes crops grow in a farming culture; compare [[caldeggiare]] “to support”, from “warm”.^(Nocentini 2010) De Vaan reports that the link with “warm” was rejected for phonetic reasons, and leans to [[ine-pro|*bʰh₂u̯-eh₁-|t=to be favourable]], from the root of the verb “to be”.^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The TLIO's first record is in the ''Splanamento'' of Girardo Patecchio of Cremona, in the 13th century.^(TLIO) DELI's earliest is in Bono Giamboni, before 1292, in the sense “goodwill, preference, sympathy”.^(DELI 1999)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In Old Italian ''favore'' was the support of the gods or of fortune, partiality in public affairs, and help in general; the phrases ''a favore'', ''in favore'' and ''per favore di qualcuno'' meant “in support of someone”.^(TLIO) The concrete sense, a kind act done for someone, is recorded from Vespasiano da Bisticci (before 1498).^(DELI 1999)

+

+ Today ''per favore'' is the usual “please”, and ''fammi il favore!'' or ''mi faccia il favore!'' is an impatient or ironic retort.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Treccani 2011) ''Di favore'' describes something granted as a concession, such as a reduced price or a free ticket, and in the plural ''favori'' are sexual favours.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026) Among the derivatives, ''favorito'' in the sporting sense is an anglicism (1888), and ''favoriti'' “sideburns” is French ''favoris'', recorded in Italian from 1839–1841.^(DELI 1999)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 13th century – Girardo Patecchio uses ''favore'' at Cremona.^(TLIO)

+ * Before 1292 – Bono Giamboni uses it for “goodwill”.^(DELI 1999)

+ * Before 1498 – Vespasiano da Bisticci uses it for a kind act, and ''favorire'' is first recorded.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1525 – Pietro Aretino uses ''favorita'' for a powerful man's mistress.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1850–1853 – ''Favoritismo'' appears in Luigi Carlo Farini.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1888 – ''Favorito'' is used of the favourite in a race.^(DELI 1999)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A kind act, a [[m|en|favour]] done for someone: ''Mi puoi fare un favore?''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+ # Goodwill, [[m|en|approval]]: ''Lo spettacolo ha conquistato il favore della critica.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Treccani 2011)

+ # Help, advantage, protection: ''Sono usciti col favore del buio.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Gabrielli 2020)

+ # ''(in the plural)'' Sexual favours.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[favorire]]

+ * [[favorito]]

+ * [[favorita]]

+ * [[favoritismo]]

+ * [[favorevole]]

+ * [[sfavorevole]]

+ * [[favoreggiare]]

+ * [[favoreggiamento]]

+ * [[favoreggiatore]]

+ * [[sfavore]]

+ * [[disfavore]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[la|favor]]

+ * [[fr|faveur]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ ''Per favore'' “please” opens or closes a polite request.^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Treccani 2011) ''A favore di'' or ''in favore di'' means “in support of, for the benefit of”: one votes ''a favore'' of a proposal.^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Treccani 2011)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}