divertente Italian · revision 37870

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=before 1803, Vittorio Alfieri|origins=la vertō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /di.verˈtɛn.te/^(Wiktionary)

+ * Regional: /di.verˈten.te/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''divertente''' ''m or f'' by sense (plural divertenti, superlative divertentissimo)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is the present participle of [[divertire]] “to amuse”, used as an adjective.^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Devoto 1968) The verb is a learned word, [[bor|la|dīvertō|t=to turn aside, go different ways]], made from [[m|la|vertō|t=to turn]] with [[m|la|dis-|t=apart]], and moved into the conjugation in ⟨-ire⟩.^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010) The LEI files it under the closely related Latin [[m|la|dēvertō|t=to turn away]], which also gave the older Italian ⟨divertere⟩.^(LEI|20, 81) The same verb is [[fr|divertir]] and [[es|divertir]].^(Nocentini 2010)^(LEI|20, 81) Wiktionary compares the adjective [[pms|divertent]].^(Wiktionary)

+

+ The sense “amusing” grew out of the older sense of the verb, “to turn away, distract”: what amuses draws the mind away from its cares.^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ DELI and the LEI first record the adjective in Vittorio Alfieri, before 1803, meaning “that amuses, gives pleasure”.^(DELI 1999)^(LEI|20, 81) The GDLI quotes his autobiography on some sittings that were “poco, certo, divertenti” (certainly not very amusing).^(GDLI|4, 862)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The verb ''divertire'' meant “to turn away, divert” from the 14th century; the sense “to amuse” is recorded only in 1708–1709, in Lorenzo Magalotti, and the reflexive ''divertirsi'' “to have fun” in Goldoni in 1763.^(DELI 1999) French had ''divertir'' “to amuse” somewhat earlier, from 1608.^(LEI|20, 81) The adjective followed the new sense of the verb: from Alfieri it is “amusing, entertaining”, and, from Italo Svevo (1927–1928) it is also used of people, “witty, good company”.^(LEI|20, 81)^(GDLI) In the 1930s and 1940s it was used as well of objects of a quaint or odd shape.^(LEI|20, 81) The noun ''divertimento'', first “a turning away” (1525, Bembo) and then “pastime” (1679), has the same history.^(DELI 1999)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 14th century – ''divertire'' is recorded meaning “to turn away”.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1708–1709 – Magalotti uses ''divertire'' for “to amuse”.^(DELI 1999)

+ * Before 1803 – Alfieri uses ''divertente''.^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010)

+ * 1927–1928 – Svevo calls a person ''divertente'', “witty”.^(LEI|20, 81)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # [[m|en|amusing]], [[m|en|entertaining]], fun: ''una gita divertente''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Wiktionary)

+ # (of a person) [[m|en|witty]], good company: ''Il tuo amico è molto divertente.''^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Gabrielli 2020)^(LEI|20, 81)

+ # [[m|en|quaint]], odd, oddly charming: ''un cappellino divertente''.^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[divertentemente]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[divertire]]

+ * [[divertimento]]

+ * [[divertito]]

+ * [[diverso]]

+ * [[la|dīvertō]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ The superlative is ''divertentissimo''.^(Wiktionary)^(GDLI) Wiktionary gives a regional pronunciation with a closed /e/ beside the standard open /ɛ/.^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}