giocare Italian · revision 37755

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=before 1292, Bono Giamboni|origins=la iocus}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /d͡ʒoˈka.re/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''giocare''' (first-person singular present giòco, first-person singular past historic giocài, past participle giocàto, auxiliary avére)^(Wiktionary)

+ The literary form is [[giuocare]], remade on ''giuoco'';^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Treccani 2011)^(DEI|1811) Old Italian also had [[giucare]].^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Treccani 2011)^(DEI|1811)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|la-vul|*iocō|alt=*iocāre|t=to joke; to play]], an active form of classical [[la|iocor|t=to joke, jest]], derived from [[m|la|iocus|t=joke, jest]], which became Italian [[gioco]].^(GRADIT 2003)^(Nocentini 2010)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Wiktionary) Wiktionary notes that within Italian the verb can also be analysed as the noun with the ending [[-are]].^(Wiktionary)

+

+ The verb is found throughout Romance: [[fr|jouer]], [[oc|jogar]], [[ca|jogar|alt=jogar]], [[es|jugar]], [[pt|jogar|alt=jogar]], [[sc|giogare]] and [[ro|juca]], which also means “to dance”.^(Nocentini 2010)^(REW 1935)

+

+ The Latin noun goes back to [[itc-pro|*jokos|alt=*joko-]] and [[ine-pro|*yokos|alt=*iok-o-|t=word, utterance]].^(de Vaan 2008) De Vaan compares [[xum|iuka|t=words, prayers]], [[cy|iaith|t=language]] and [[goh|jehan|t=to say, declare]].^(de Vaan 2008) In Italian the Latin /j/ became the sound written ⟨gi⟩, and the stressed ⟨o⟩ could become ⟨uo⟩, as in ⟨giuoco⟩.^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ DELI's first record is in Bono Giamboni and the ''Fiore'', before 1292, both for amusing oneself with pleasant activities and for taking part in a contest or match.^(DELI 1999)^(GRADIT 2003)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Gambling senses came early: Cecco Angiolieri (before 1313) uses the verb for betting, Domenico Cavalca (before 1342) for losing at play, and Alessandro Piccolomini (1536) for staking money on chance.^(DELI 1999) Boccaccio (1339–1340) used it for tricking or cheating someone, and Machiavelli (before 1527) for putting something at risk.^(DELI 1999) The ''Decameron'' lists ''giucare'' with hunting, fishing and riding among a gentleman's pastimes, and Giovanni Villani tells of a man who played three chessboards at once against the best players of Florence.^(Tommaseo–Bellini 1861)

+

+ The use for a mechanical part that moves freely inside another is recorded in Girolamo Ruscelli before 1566.^(DELI 1999) In hunting it is said of birds that answer a decoy.^(Treccani 2011) Derivatives include ''giocatore'' (13th century), ''giocherellare'' (1843) and ''giocherellone'' (1946).^(Nocentini 2010)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * Before 1292 – Bono Giamboni and the ''Fiore'' use ''giocare''.^(DELI 1999)

+ * Before 1313 – Cecco Angiolieri uses it for betting.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1339–1340 – Boccaccio uses it for deceiving someone.^(DELI 1999)

+ * Before 1342 – Domenico Cavalca uses it for losing at play.^(DELI 1999)

+ * Before 1527 – Machiavelli uses it for risking something.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1536 – Alessandro Piccolomini uses it for gambling money.^(DELI 1999)

+ * Before 1566 – Girolamo Ruscelli uses it of a moving mechanical part.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1843 – ''Giocherellare'' is recorded.^(Nocentini 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To [[m|en|play]] a game, for fun or to pass the time: ''Dopo cena giochiamo a carte.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To toy, fiddle with something.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)

+ # To play a [[m|en|sport]]; to be a member of a team or play in a given role; to play a match: ''Gioca in difesa da tre stagioni.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To [[m|en|gamble]], bet money on chance: ''Ha giocato tutto sul rosso.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(figurative)'' To exploit, play on something, with ''su''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+ # Transitively, to play a card or a piece; to stake, risk: ''giocarsi la carriera''.^(Wiktionary)^(Treccani 2011)^(GRADIT 2003)

+ # ''(figurative)'' To trick, deceive someone.^(Wiktionary)^(DELI 1999)

+ # ''(mechanics)'' Of a part, to have play.^(Wiktionary)^(DELI 1999)

+ # ''(figurative)'' To count, matter: ''Nella scelta gioca molto il prezzo.''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[giocatore]]

+ * [[giocata]]

+ * [[giocattolo]]

+ * [[giocherellare]]

+ * [[giocherellone]]

+ * [[rigiocare]]

+ * [[giocabile]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[giocolare]]

+ * [[gioco]]

+ * [[la|iocus]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ The forms with ⟨uo⟩ (''giuoco'', ''giuocare'') are now literary and rare.^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Treccani 2011) Set phrases include ''giocare con il fuoco'' “to play with fire”, ''giocare a carte scoperte'' “to act openly” and ''a che gioco giochiamo?'', said to someone suspected of a trick.^(Zingarelli 2010)^(GRADIT 2003) The proverb ''fortunato in amor non giochi a carte'' warns the lucky in love off gambling.^(Treccani 2011)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}