scoprire Italian · revision 37854

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=before 1306, Iacopone da Todi|origins=la cooperiō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /skoˈpri.re/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''scoprire''' (first-person singular present scòpro, first-person singular past historic scoprìi or scopèrsi, past participle scopèrto, auxiliary avére)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is formed [[af|it|s-|coprire]], with the prefix ⟨s-⟩ in its privative sense: to uncover is to take away what covers.^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010)^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026) The base verb continues [[la|cooperiō|t=to cover completely]], made of [[m|la|co-]] and [[m|la|operiō|t=to cover, close]], whose own origin is uncertain.^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010)

+

+ Prati allows that the verb may instead continue [[la-lat|discooperiō|t=to uncover]], the source Meyer-Lübke gives for the whole Romance family.^(Prati 1951|897)^(REW 1935) The same compound is [[ro|descoperi]], [[fr|découvrir]], [[oc|descobrir]], [[ca|descobrir]], [[es|descubrir]] and [[pt|descobrir]], and in Sardinian and Friulian too.^(REW 1935) The older and poetic form is [[scovrire]].^(DEI|3416)^(Treccani 2011)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ DELI's first record is in Iacopone da Todi, before 1306, for “to free from what covers or hides”: a mother draws back the covers to look at her crying child.^(DELI 1999)^(GDLI) DEI dates the variant ''scovrire'' to the 13th century, and GRADIT gives the 13th century for the verb.^(DEI|3416)^(GRADIT 2003)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The sense “to come to know, and make known, something not known before” is in Dante, before 1321, and “to reveal, make plain” in Boccaccio in 1353.^(DELI 1999) Machiavelli, before 1527, uses the reflexive for showing one's own way of thinking, and a Milanese print of 1804 has ''scoprirsi'' for taking off one's clothes.^(DELI 1999) Boxing gave the sense “to drop one's guard” (recorded 1970), and modern dictionaries also use the verb for leaving a front or a goal undefended.^(DELI 1999)^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+

+ The derivatives followed the verb: ''scoperto'' “uncovered, open” in Crescenzi's translation of about 1350, ''scopritore'' before 1586 and ''scoperta'' “discovery” before 1587, in Giovan Maria Cecchi.^(DELI 1999) Ironic ''Bella scoperta!'' for someone presenting the obvious as new is noted in 1863, and ''scoprire l'America'' and ''scoprire l'acqua calda'' are used the same way.^(DELI 1999)^(Zingarelli 2010)^(GRADIT 2003)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * Before 1306 – Iacopone da Todi uses ''scoprire'' for uncovering.^(DELI 1999)

+ * Before 1321 – Dante uses it for discovering something unknown.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1353 – Boccaccio uses it for “to reveal”.^(DELI 1999)

+ * Before 1587 – ''Scoperta'' “discovery” is recorded in Cecchi.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1804 – The reflexive ''scoprirsi'' “to undress” is recorded in Milan.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1970 – The boxing sense “to drop one's guard” is recorded.^(DELI 1999)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Verb===

+ # ''(transitive)'' To [[m|en|uncover]], take off a lid or covering: ''Scopri il tegame e mescola il sugo.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+ # ''(transitive)'' To unveil a statue or plaque at its public inauguration.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)

+ # ''(transitive, also pronominal)'' To bare a part of the body, ''(intransitive pronominal)'' to dress too lightly: ''Copriti, non scoprirti con questo vento.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+ # ''(transitive)'' To leave [[m|en|unprotected]] or undefended, in war, boxing or sport.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Treccani 2011)

+ # ''(transitive)'' To let be seen, ''(figurative)'' to reveal one's plans or feelings.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Gabrielli 2020)

+ # ''(transitive)'' To [[m|en|discover]] something unknown, a place, law or object: ''Gli archeologi hanno scoperto una villa romana.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+ # ''(transitive)'' To [[m|en|find out]] a secret or a fact that was hidden, or to identify the person responsible.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+ # ''(transitive)'' To come to see a quality in someone or to appreciate something for the first time.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+ # ''(literary)'' To make out, catch sight of something far away.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Treccani 2011)^(Gabrielli 2020)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[scoperta]]

+ * [[scoperto]]

+ * [[scopritore]]

+ * [[riscoprire]]

+ * [[scoprimento]]

+ * [[scopribile]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[discoprire]]

+ * [[scoprirsi]]

+ * [[coprire]]

+ * [[la|cooperiō]]

+ * [[fr|découvrir]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Common phrases are ''scoprire le carte'' “to show one's hand”, ''scoprire il fianco'' “to lay oneself open to attack” and the ironic ''scoprire l'America'' or ''l'acqua calda'' “to state the obvious”.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Treccani 2011)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}