pazzo Italian · revision 37853

+ {{infobox|confidence=disputed|attested=c. 1280, Serventese dei Lambertazzi e dei Geremei}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /ˈpat.t͡so/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''pazzo''' (feminine ''pazza'', masculine plural ''pazzi'', feminine plural ''pazze''); also a noun, ''pazzo'' m, ''pazza'' f^(Wiktionary)^(GRADIT 2003)

+ Old Italian also has ''paccio'', ''paço'' and ''pascio''.^(TLIO)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The origin is disputed, and DELI, GRADIT and Sabatini–Coletti call it uncertain.^(DELI 1999)^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026) Nocentini and Devoto–Oli take it as the short past participle of the verb [[der|la-vul|*pactiō|alt=*pactiāre|t=to press, beat]], from [[la|pactus|t=pressed together]]: the madman would be one who has had a knock on the head, as in [[picchiato]] and [[tocco]].^(Nocentini 2010)^(Devoto–Oli 2026) In support Nocentini points to [[strapazzare]] “to batter”, from a [[m|la-vul|*extrapactiō|alt=*extrapactiāre]], and to the southern variant [[paccio]], since ⟨-ctj-⟩ gave both ⟨zz⟩ and ⟨cc⟩ in Italo-Romance, as in the pair of verbs with the variant [[strapacciare]].^(Nocentini 2010) Biadene had already proposed the Vulgar Latin verb, but through a dialect [[vec|pazzo|t=dirty]] of Treviso and the Val di Fiemme;^(Nocentini 2010)^(Prati 1951|754) Prati rejected that on grounds of meaning.^(Nocentini 2010)^(Prati 1951|754)

+

+ The older explanation, Salvioni's, is [[la|patiēns|t=suffering; sick]], and it is accepted by Meyer-Lübke, Körting and Devoto.^(REW 1935)^(Körting 1907)^(Devoto 1968) DEI thinks the word a half-learned medical term from that participle, which through a medieval spelling [[la-med|paciens]] would also explain the southern form and older [[pacio|alt=pàcio]] “foolish”.^(DEI|2811) Nigra objected that in popular thought a madman is odd and unreasonable rather than ill, and proposed a clipping of [[pupazzo]] “puppet”, which Prati and Meyer-Lübke do not accept.^(Prati 1951|754)^(REW 1935)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ DELI's first record is the Bolognese ''Serventese dei Lambertazzi e dei Geremei'' of about 1280, with the sense “mad”.^(DELI 1999)^(GRADIT 2003) The TLIO's earliest text is the Venetian ''Proverbia que dicuntur'', and its first sense is “without reason because of a mental disorder”.^(TLIO)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Already at the end of the 13th century, in Simone Pallavillani, the word was used for someone who behaves senselessly, and Boccaccio used it for “foolish”.^(DELI 1999)^(Tommaseo–Bellini 1861) Old Italian also had ''pazzo d'amore'', mad with love, and used the feminine noun for a madwoman.^(TLIO) ''Pazzia'' “folly” is in Giordano da Pisa before 1311, ''pazzesco'' in the 14th century and ''pazzerello'' in San Bernardino before 1444.^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010) The phrase ''cose da pazzi'' is probably Neapolitan in origin.^(DELI 1999)

+

+ Today the adjective also intensifies (''innamorato pazzo''), describes reckless spending or speed, and changeable weather.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Treccani 2011) DEI suggests that English ''patch'' “fool” (1549) may be an anglicised ''pazzo'', and German had ''Pazzo'' in 1876.^(DEI|2811)^(DIFIT)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1280 – The ''Serventese dei Lambertazzi e dei Geremei'' has ''pazzo''.^(DELI 1999)

+ * End of the 13th century – Pallavillani uses it for someone acting senselessly.^(DELI 1999)

+ * Before 1311 – ''Pazzia'' “foolish act” is recorded in Giordano da Pisa.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 14th century – ''Pazzesco'' is recorded.^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010)

+ * 1549 – English ''patch'' “fool” is recorded.^(DIFIT)

+ * 1944 – ''Pazzoide'' is recorded in Palazzeschi.^(Nocentini 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # [[m|en|mad]], [[m|en|insane]], ''pazzo furioso'', ''pazzo da legare'' “raving mad”.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+ # Acting recklessly, as if out of one's mind: ''Sei pazzo a guidare con questa nebbia?''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)

+ # Beside oneself with a strong feeling (''pazzo di gioia, di gelosia''); very much in love (''innamorato pazzo'').^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+ # Odd, [[m|en|eccentric]]: ''Mio zio è un po' pazzo, ma gli vogliamo bene.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+ # Senseless or excessive: ''spese pazze'', ''prezzi pazzi''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+ # ''(of weather)'' Changeable.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Treccani 2011)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # A madman or madwoman; someone reckless or eccentric.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Gabrielli 2020)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[pazzia]]

+ * [[pazzesco]]

+ * [[pazzerello]]

+ * [[pazzerellone]]

+ * [[pazzoide]]

+ * [[pazzeggiare]]

+ * [[impazzire]]

+ * [[impazzare]]

+ * [[pazzamente]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[matto]]

+ * [[strapazzare]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ ''Andare pazzo per'' means “to be crazy about”, ''darsi alla pazza gioia'' “to let oneself go”, and ''cose da pazzi!'' or ''roba da pazzi!'' express amazement or indignation.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010) ''Acqua pazza'' was once thin broth or watered milk.^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Prati 1951|754)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}