scappare Italian · revision 37833

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=c. 1224, Francis of Assisi|origins=la-lat cappa}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /skapˈpa.re/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''scappare''' (first-person singular present scàppo, first-person singular past historic scappài, past participle scappàto, auxiliary èssere)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|la-vul|*excappō|alt=*excappāre]], a verb formed on [[la-lat|cappa|t=hood; cloak]] with [[m|la|ex-|t=out of]].^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010)^(GRADIT 2003)^(Wiktionary) DELI and most dictionaries take it to have meant “to slip off one's cloak” in order to run away faster;^(DELI 1999)^(Gabrielli 2020)^(Nocentini 2010) Nocentini starts from the transitive sense “to free from the cloak, let go”, and takes the intransitive “to get free, escape” from that.^(DELI 1999)^(Gabrielli 2020)^(Nocentini 2010) The same verb is [[ro|scăpa]], [[fr|échapper]], [[oc|escapar]], [[ca|escapar]], [[es|escapar]], [[pt|escapar]] and [[sc|iscappare|t=to set free]].^(Nocentini 2010)^(REW 1935)^(DEI|3372) Crossed with [[la|campus|t=field]], it gave [[scampare]].^(REW 1935)

+

+ The Latin noun is first recorded in the 6th century, in Gregory of Tours and Isidore.^(LEI|11, 375)^(Körting 1907) Its origin is disputed: Alessio, cited by the LEI, thought it came from the East through Greek, comparing [[fa|قبا|tr=qabā]], while the leading view on Wiktionary takes it as a shortening of [[m|la|capitulāre]], from [[m|la|caput|t=head]].^(LEI|11, 375)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ DELI's first record is ''skappare'' in Francis of Assisi, about 1224, for escaping a danger by flight; the spelling ''scappare'' follows in Boccaccio (1353).^(DELI 1999)^(GRADIT 2003)^(DIFIT) In the ''Decameron'' a character threatens: “tu non mi scapperai dalle mani” (you will not escape from my hands).^(Tommaseo–Bellini 1861|4, 609)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The sense “to slip out unintentionally”, of words or feelings that cannot be held back, is recorded before 1676 (Carlo Roberto Dati), and “to do or say something unexpectedly” in 1764 (Genovesi).^(DELI 1999) “To come out of what contains or covers it” follows in 1816, and the plain sense “to run off, hurry away” in Manzoni's ''Promessi sposi'' (1825–1827): “scappa, scappa, galantuomo”.^(DELI 1999) In Umbria the verb also has the form ''scappire''.^(DEI|3372)

+

+ The derivatives took their own paths: ''scappata'' meant an outburst in 1589, a lapse in 1600 and a quick trip somewhere in Manzoni's revision of 1840–1842.^(DELI 1999) ''Scappatella'' “a slight transgression” is recorded before 1629, ''scappatoia'' “loophole, way out” in 1612, and ''scappamento'' named a clock's escapement in 1772 and an engine's exhaust in 1899.^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010) English slang ''scarper'' “to run away”, first in Polari in 1846, has been traced to the Italian verb, though the link is uncertain.^(DIFIT)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * About 1224 – Francis of Assisi uses ''skappare''.^(DELI 1999)^(GRADIT 2003)

+ * 1353 – Boccaccio uses ''scappare''.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1612 – ''Scappatoia'' is recorded.^(DELI 1999)

+ * Before 1676 – The sense “to slip out unintentionally” is recorded.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1772 – ''Scappamento'' names a clock's escapement.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1825–1827 – Manzoni uses the verb for “to run off”.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1846 – English ''scarper'' is recorded in Polari.^(DIFIT)

+ * 1899 – ''Scappamento'' is used for an engine's exhaust.^(DELI 1999)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Verb===

+ # ''(intransitive)'' To run away, [[m|en|flee]]: ''Il cane è scappato appena ha sentito il tuono.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(intransitive)'' To [[m|en|escape]] from a place where one is confined: ''Due detenuti sono scappati durante la notte.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+ # ''(intransitive)'' To leave one's family or spouse, run away from home: ''scappare di casa''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Treccani 2011)

+ # ''(intransitive, figurative)'' To escape from a bad situation: ''Non si può scappare dai problemi per sempre.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)

+ # ''(intransitive)'' To dash off, hurry somewhere: ''Scappo un attimo in farmacia.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+ # ''(intransitive)'' Of an opportunity or a vehicle, to be missed: ''Non lasciarti scappare questa offerta.''^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Treccani 2011)

+ # ''(intransitive)'' Of words, mistakes or feelings, to slip out unintentionally: ''Mi è scappata una parolaccia.''^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Treccani 2011)

+ # ''(intransitive, colloquial)'' Of a physical need, to be impossible to hold back: ''mi scappa da ridere''.^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[scappata]]

+ * [[scappatella]]

+ * [[scappatoia]]

+ * [[scappamento]]

+ * [[riscappare]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[scampare]]

+ * [[cappa]]

+ * [[fr|échapper]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ ''Di qui non si scappa'' means that there is no alternative.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010) The proverb ''chiudere la stalla quando i buoi sono scappati'' mocks remedies that come too late.^(Treccani 2011)^(GRADIT 2003) The auxiliary is ''essere''.^(Wiktionary)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}