dottore Italian · revision 37659

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=mid-13th century, Ruggieri Apugliese (Sienese)|origins=la doceō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /dotˈto.re/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''dottore''' ''m'' (plural dottori, feminine dottoressa)^(Wiktionary)

+ The TLIO's early forms include [[roa-oit|dotore]], [[m|roa-oit|doctore]] and [[m|roa-oit|dottorio]].^(TLIO)

+ Before a name it is shortened to ''dottor''.^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+ The feminine is ''dottoressa'' (16th century), jocularly also ''dottora''.^(DEI|1387)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|la|doctor|t=teacher, instructor]], from the accusative ⟨doctōrem⟩, a learned word.^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010)^(GRADIT 2003)^(GDLI|4, 980) Wiktionary treats it as inherited.^(Wiktionary) The noun is formed [[af|la|doceō|-tor|t1=to teach]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ Nocentini notes that the word spread through the European languages in the Middle Ages, with [[la-med|doctor]] as the title of the new universities.^(Nocentini 2010) DEI and GDLI trace the steps: the title ⟨doctores ecclesiae⟩ was given to some Fathers of the Church for the authority of their teaching, and in the late Middle Ages it became an academic degree, conferred first at Bologna, above all in theology and later in medicine.^(DEI|1387)^(GDLI|4, 980) The same learned word is [[fr|docteur]], [[es|doctor]], [[pt|doutor]] and [[ro|doftor]].^(Körting 1907)^(Nocentini 2010) Körting observed that it is learned everywhere, the popular word being, as already in Latin, [[m|la|magister]].^(Körting 1907)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The TLIO's first record is a lauda by the Sienese Ruggieri Apugliese, from the middle of the 13th century, where it means a person of wide learning and authority.^(TLIO) Zingarelli dates it 1268.^(Zingarelli 2010) DELI's first record, with the sense “one able to teach a discipline”, is in Bono Giamboni, before 1292: “In tutti i dottori scritto si trova…” (it is found written in all the learned authors…).^(DELI 1999)^(GDLI|4, 980)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In Old Italian the word named the master of a doctrine: Dante calls Virgil his ''dottore'' (“poscia ch'io ebbi il mio dottore udito”, after I had heard my teacher).^(GRADIT 2003)^(Treccani 2011) It also named the doctors of law, as in ''dottore di legge'' and ''dottore utriusque iuris'', of civil and canon law.^(TLIO) The sense “physician” appears before 1400 in Franco Sacchetti, and DEI notes that it was by then the usual popular sense.^(DELI 1999)^(DEI|1387) From the 12th to the 17th century great theologians were given epithets such as ''dottor angelico'' (Thomas Aquinas) and ''dottor sottile'' (Duns Scotus).^(GRADIT 2003)

+

+ In the commedia dell'arte the Doctor was the pedantic old scholar, lawyer or physician, usually from Bologna, such as ''il dottor Balanzone'', whose name DEI derives from Venetian ''balanza'' “scales”, the sign of justice.^(DEI|1387)^(Treccani 2011) DELI first records this sense in 1835, though DEI places the mask in the 16th century.^(DELI 1999)^(DEI|1387) German has ''Dottore'' for the stage figure from 1838.^(DIFIT) Today the title belongs to anyone holding a university degree, and it is abbreviated ''dott.'' or ''dr.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Treccani 2011)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * Mid-13th century – Ruggieri Apugliese uses ''dottore'' for a learned man.^(TLIO)

+ * Before 1292 – Bono Giamboni uses it of the authors one learns from.^(DELI 1999)

+ * Before 1400 – Franco Sacchetti uses it for a physician.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1835 – It is recorded as the name of the commedia dell'arte mask.^(DELI 1999)^(DIFIT)

+ * 1838 – German ''Dottore'' is first recorded.^(DIFIT)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # The academic title of a [[m|en|graduate]], someone who holds a university degree (a [[laurea]]); also used before the surname, as ''dottor'', and in address: ''Buongiorno, dottor Ferri.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+ # ''(colloquial)'' A [[m|en|physician]], a doctor: ''Ho ancora la febbre, domani vado dal dottore.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Treccani 2011)

+ # ''(historical)'' A man of law, a lawyer.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Treccani 2011)

+ # ''(archaic)'' A teacher or master of a doctrine; a learned person.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Zingarelli 2010) ''Dottore della Chiesa'' is the title of saints honoured for their teaching.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Gabrielli 2020)

+ # ''(theatre)'' The Doctor, a [[m|en|stock character]] of the commedia dell'arte who mocks the learned pedant.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Treccani 2011)

+ # ''(derogatory)'' ''fare il dottore'': to act the know-all.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[dottoressa]]

+ * [[dottorale]]

+ * [[dottorato]]

+ * [[dottorando]]

+ * [[addottorare]]

+ * [[dottoreggiare]]

+ * [[sdottorare]]

+ * [[dottoresco]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[dottrina]]

+ * [[dotto]]

+ * [[docente]]

+ * [[la|doctor]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Like other titles, ''dottore'' loses its final vowel before a name (''il dottor Rossi'').^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026) A proverb warns against overwork: ''meglio un asino vivo che un dottore morto'' (better a live donkey than a dead doctor).^(Treccani 2011) In Tuscany ''dottore'' was also a popular name for some birds, the mallard according to Redi and the nuthatch at Pisa.^(GDLI|4, 980)^(DEI|1387)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}