comprare Italian · revision 37834

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=last quarter of the 12th century, Proverbia que dicuntur|origins=la parō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /komˈpra.re/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''comprare''' (first-person singular present cómpro, first-person singular past historic comprài, past participle compràto, auxiliary avére)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|la-vul|*comperō|alt=*comperāre]], from [[la|comparō|t=to prepare; to procure; to buy]], formed with [[m|la|com-]] and [[m|la|parō|t=to prepare, furnish]].^(Wiktionary)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010)^(GRADIT 2003) The LEI reconstructs the Vulgar Latin verb from its spread in the Romance languages, and the GDLI suggests that the form with /e/ arose to keep it apart from the verb meaning “to compare”.^(LEI|16, 374)^(GDLI|3, 426) Sabatini–Coletti explain the Italian form by the loss of the unstressed /e/, which survives in the variant [[comperare]].^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026) In Italy the verb replaced [[la|emō|t=to buy]], which left no Romance descendants, and competed with [[accattare]].^(LEI|16, 374)^(REW 1935)

+

+ The same verb is [[ro|cumpăra]], [[fro|comperer]], [[oc|comprar]], [[ca|comprar]], [[es|comprar]], [[pt|comprar]] and [[sc|comporare]].^(Nocentini 2010)^(REW 1935) Meyer-Lübke noted that the western forms seem to go back to the variant with /e/, while the LEI takes Romanian and Old French to show the classical vowel again; northern Italian dialects often have forms beginning with /kr/.^(REW 1935)^(LEI|16, 374) De Vaan derives the simple Latin verb from a noun [[ine-pro|*prh₃-o-|t=providing]], with cognates in [[grc|ἔπορον|tr=époron|t=provided, gave]] and [[sga|ernaid|t=grants]].^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The TLIO's first record is the Venetian ''Proverbia que dicuntur'', of the last quarter of the 12th century.^(TLIO)^(LEI|16, 374) DEI and Zingarelli give 1219, at Venice, and DELI a Tuscan inventory of 1221, all in the sense “to acquire goods by paying their price”.^(DEI|1039)^(Zingarelli 2010)^(DELI 1999) Early in the 13th century Uguccione da Lodi writes of the man who would “comprar de la terra, canpi, vigna e closura” (buy land, fields, vineyard and enclosure).^(GDLI|3, 426)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Old Italian already used the verb for buying credits and rights, for acquiring virtue, offices or the people's goodwill with money, for ransoming someone (also from sin) and for paying the price of a fault.^(TLIO) The sense “to bribe” is recorded before 1639, in Campanella.^(DELI 1999) Pulci's ''comperar le brighe'' “to look for trouble” shows the literary sense “to seek out something unpleasant”.^(Prati 1951|317)^(Zingarelli 2010) Meyer-Lübke saw an older meaning in Piedmontese ''kumprè'' “to have a child”.^(REW 1935)

+

+ The noun ''compera'' (also ''compra'') is a deverbal of the verb, recorded before 1348 in Giovanni Villani.^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010) ''Compratore'' continues a Late Latin ''comparator'': ''comparatore'' is in an early 13th-century translation, ''comperatore'' in Bono Giamboni and ''compratore'' before 1556 in Aretino.^(DELI 1999) ''Compravendita'' “sale contract” is recorded in 1857, and ''compravendere'' was made from it in 1942.^(DELI 1999) The proverb ''chi disprezza compra'' says that whoever runs down the goods means to buy them.^(Treccani 2011)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * Last quarter of the 12th century – The Venetian ''Proverbia que dicuntur'' use the verb.^(TLIO)^(LEI|16, 374)

+ * 1219 – It is recorded at Venice.^(DEI|1039)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+ * 1221 – A Tuscan inventory uses ''comprare''.^(DELI 1999)

+ * Before 1348 – Giovanni Villani uses ''compera'' “purchase”.^(DELI 1999)

+ * Before 1556 – Pietro Aretino uses ''compratore''.^(DELI 1999)

+ * Before 1639 – Tommaso Campanella uses the verb for “to bribe”.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1857 – ''Compravendita'' is recorded.^(DELI 1999)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Verb===

+ # ''(transitive)'' To [[m|en|buy]], [[m|en|purchase]]: ''Ho comprato due chili di mele al mercato.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(transitive)'' To buy as a present for someone: ''Le abbiamo comprato una sciarpa.''^(Devoto–Oli 2026)

+ # ''(transitive, sport)'' To sign a player from another club.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+ # ''(transitive)'' To obtain with money something that should not be for sale: ''Ha comprato il silenzio dei vicini.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+ # ''(transitive)'' To [[m|en|bribe]], corrupt: ''Hanno cercato di comprare un testimone.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Treccani 2011)

+ # ''(literary)'' To bring on oneself, seek out (trouble): ''comprare brighe''.^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Gabrielli 2020)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[compera]]

+ * [[compratore]]

+ * [[compravendita]]

+ * [[compravendere]]

+ * [[comprabile]]

+ * [[ricomprare]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[comperare]]

+ * [[comparare]]

+ * [[parare]]

+ * [[accattare]]

+ * [[la|comparo]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ ''Comperare'' is an equally correct variant, with the present ''cómpero''.^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Wiktionary) ''Comprarsi'' adds emphasis: ''mi sono comprato una bici''.^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}