pace Italian · revision 37875

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=about 1224, Francis of Assisi|origins=itc-pro *pāks}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /ˈpa.t͡ʃe/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''pace''' ''f'' (plural paci)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|la|pāx|t=peace]], continuing its accusative [[m|la|pācem]].^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010)^(GRADIT 2003)^(Wiktionary) The word is found throughout Romance: [[fr|paix]], [[oc|patz]], [[ca|pau]], [[es|paz]], [[pt|paz]], [[sc|paghe]] and [[ro|pace]].^(Nocentini 2010)^(REW 1935) Latin also lent it to Brittonic, as in [[br|peoc'h]], and in the Christian sense of the kiss of peace to the Celtic languages.^(DEI)^(REW 1935)

+

+ De Vaan reconstructs [[itc-pro|*pāks|alt=*pāk-|t=agreement, peace]], beside the verb [[m|la|pacīscor|t=to make an agreement]] and [[m|la|pactum|t=agreement]], and traces it to [[ine-pro|*peh₂ḱ-|t=agreement]], with [[got|𐍆𐌰𐌷𐌰𐌽|tr=fāhan|t=to catch]] and [[sa|पाश|tr=pā́śa|t=snare]].^(de Vaan 2008) Nocentini and Devoto connect the root with that of [[m|la|pangō|t=to fix, drive in]] and [[grc|πήγνυμι|tr=pḗgnumi|t=to fix]], so that the first meaning was “something fixed, agreed between two parties”;^(Nocentini 2010)^(Devoto 1968)^(Wiktionary) Wiktionary gives the root as [[m|ine-pro|*peh₂ǵ-]].^(Nocentini 2010)^(Devoto 1968)^(Wiktionary) The same root gave Italian [[patto]].^(Nocentini 2010)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ DELI's first dated sense is “peace of mind and conscience”, in Francis of Assisi about 1224.^(DELI 1999) “Concord, untroubled relations” follows in Giacomo da Lentini, before 1250, who already used the word figuratively, and the political sense, “absence of war between peoples”, in Brunetto Latini, before 1294.^(DELI 1999) GRADIT dates the word to the second half of the 13th century.^(GRADIT 2003)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In the Church, ''pace'' was also the kiss of peace, given as a pledge of good faith between envoys and magistrates in the 14th and 15th centuries, and a small tablet with a sacred image that was kissed during Mass (Cellini).^(DEI)^(Prati 1951) ''Pace e bene'' is the Franciscan greeting, from Latin ''pax et bonum''.^(DEI) Of the dead, ''pace'' is the eternal rest of the soul.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+

+ The derivatives ''pacifico'' (before 1292, Guittone) and ''pacificare'' (about 1284) came through Latin, and their later fortune owed much to French;^(DELI 1999) ''pacifismo'' (1908) and ''pacifista'' (1905) follow French ''pacifisme'' and ''pacifiste''.^(DELI 1999) The mediator was a ''paciaro'' in Dino Compagni (1310–1312) and a ''paciere'' from 1604.^(DELI 1999) The phrase ''mettersi il cuore in pace'', to resign oneself, follows a Milanese idiom recorded by Cherubini.^(DELI 1999) In children's games ''pace!'' calls a truce.^(GRADIT 2003)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * About 1224 – Francis of Assisi uses ''pace'' for peace of the soul.^(DELI 1999)

+ * Before 1250 – Giacomo da Lentini uses it for concord between people.^(DELI 1999)

+ * About 1284 – ''Pacificare'' is recorded.^(DELI 1999)

+ * Before 1292 – Guittone d'Arezzo uses ''pacifico''.^(DELI 1999)

+ * Before 1294 – Brunetto Latini uses ''pace'' for the absence of war.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1310–1312 – ''Paciaro'' (peacemaker) appears in Dino Compagni.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1905 – ''Pacifista'' is recorded by Panzini.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1908 – ''Pacifismo'' is first recorded.^(DELI 1999)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # [[m|en|peace]], the absence of war or armed conflict: ''trent’anni di pace''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+ # The making of peace; a peace [[m|en|treaty]]: ''firmare la pace'', ''la pace di Lodi''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+ # Concord, [[m|en|harmony]] between people: ''fare pace'', to make up.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Treccani 2011)

+ # Peace of mind, serenity: ''non darsi pace'', to be unable to get over something.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Gabrielli 2020)

+ # Quiet, calm: ''Lasciami in pace!''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Gabrielli 2020)

+ # ''(religion)'' The eternal rest of the soul.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+

+ ===Interjection===

+ # ''(colloquial)'' That's that; never mind.^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(children's games)'' Truce!^(GRADIT 2003)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[pacifico]]

+ * [[pacificare]]

+ * [[pacificazione]]

+ * [[pacificatore]]

+ * [[pacifismo]]

+ * [[pacifista]]

+ * [[paciere]]

+ * [[paciaro]]

+ * [[pacioso]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[patto]]

+ * [[pacioccone]]

+ * [[la|pāx]]

+ * [[fr|paix]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ ''Pace'' is feminine; the plural ''paci'' is used of separate treaties or reconciliations.^(Wiktionary)^(Zingarelli 2010) Set phrases include ''giudice di pace'' (justice of the peace), ''forze di pace'' (peacekeeping forces), ''con buona pace di'' (with all due respect to) and ''in santa pace'' (undisturbed).^(GRADIT 2003)^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Devoto–Oli 2026) A minor homograph, ''pace'' /peɪs/, is the English word used in horse racing since 1927 for a horse's galloping speed.^(GRADIT 2003)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}