speciale Italian · revision 37904

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=before 1294, Guittone d'Arezzo|origins=la speciēs}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /speˈt͡ʃa.le/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''speciale''' ''m or f'' by sense (plural speciali, superlative specialissimo)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is a learned word, [[bor|la|speciālis|t=particular, of a species]], from [[m|la|speciēs|t=appearance; kind, species]] with the suffix [[m|la|-ālis]]; in Latin it was opposed to [[m|la|generālis|t=general]].^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010)^(GRADIT 2003)^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary) DEI notes that the word was spread by medieval theology, and compares [[fr|spécial]], recorded from the 12th century;^(DEI|3582)^(Körting 1907) Körting points out that it is a learned word throughout Romance.^(DEI|3582)^(Körting 1907) The same word is [[es|especial]].^(Nocentini 2010) The old form [[roa-oit|speziale]] shows the popular treatment of the group ⟨ci⟩.^(DELI 1999)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+

+ Several derivatives came through French: [[specialista]] is [[m|fr|spécialiste]], [[specializzare]] is [[m|fr|spécialiser]], and [[specializzazione]] and the phrase for a skilled worker follow French models as well.^(DELI 1999)^(DEI|3582) The noun for a television programme on one subject renders the English [[m|en|special]].^(Treccani 2011)^(GDLI|19, 767)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ DELI's first record is the form ''speziale'' in Guittone d'Arezzo (before 1294), in the sense “belonging to a particular species or case, as opposed to general”;^(DELI 1999)^(Zingarelli 2010) Zingarelli dates the word to about 1261.^(DELI 1999)^(Zingarelli 2010) The GDLI quotes Dante's ''Convivio'', where the heart means “the secret within”, not “any special part” (''speziale parte'') of the soul or body.^(GDLI|19, 767)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In Old Italian the word was used of prayers, mandates and divine inspirations meant for a particular case, as Tommaseo's quotations from Boccaccio and Segneri show.^(Tommaseo–Bellini 1861|4, 1077) The sense “choice, of uncommon quality” is recorded only in 1922, in Zingarelli.^(DELI 1999) Guittone also has the first ''specialità'' (before 1294), but the modern senses of that noun, “field of expertise” (1873) and “typical product” (1886, condemned by Rigutini as a Gallicism), follow French ''spécialité''.^(DELI 1999)

+

+ ''Specialista'' appears in 1846 in the Milanese press, in italics as a foreign word, for a doctor in one branch of medicine, and Tommaseo condemned it in 1873.^(DELI 1999) Phrases such as ''inviato speciale'', ''effetti speciali'', ''offerta speciale'' and ''tribunale speciale'' belong to modern journalism, cinema, commerce and law.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Treccani 2011)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * About 1261 – Zingarelli's date for the word.^(Zingarelli 2010)

+ * Before 1294 – Guittone d'Arezzo uses ''speziale'' and ''specialitate''.^(DELI 1999)

+ * Before 1704 – ''Specializzare'' is recorded, in Lorenzo Bellini.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1846 – ''Specialista'' appears in the Milanese press.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1922 – The sense “choice, excellent” is recorded.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1925 – Italian law regulates the ''specialità medicinali'', proprietary medicines.^(DELI 1999)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Belonging to a limited field or group, [[m|en|specific]], as opposed to general: ''la cucina speciale di una valle''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Treccani 2011)

+ # Out of the ordinary, [[m|en|special]], particular: ''Per quella pelle serve una crema speciale.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Set up for a particular purpose or occasion: ''Il comune ha messo un autobus speciale per la partita.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Treccani 2011)

+ # ''(law)'' Provided for particular or exceptional cases: ''legge speciale'', ''tribunale speciale''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)

+ # Of a person: given a particular task: ''inviato speciale'', a special correspondent.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Treccani 2011)

+ # Of excellent quality, choice: ''un formaggio davvero speciale''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+ # Of a person: exceptional, dear: ''sei una persona speciale''.^(GRADIT 2003)

+ # ''(colloquial)'' Odd, peculiar.^(Treccani 2011)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # A television [[m|en|programme]] devoted to one subject or person.^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Treccani 2011)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(skiing)'' Short for ''slalom speciale'', the special slalom.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[specialmente]]

+ * [[specialità]]

+ * [[specialista]]

+ * [[specialistico]]

+ * [[specializzare]]

+ * [[specializzato]]

+ * [[specializzazione]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[specie]]

+ * [[speziale]]

+ * [[la|speciālis]]

+ * [[fr|spécial]]

+ * [[en|special]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ ''In special modo'' or ''in modo speciale'' means “especially”.^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Treccani 2011)^(Gabrielli 2020) The old variant ''speziale'' is not the same as ''speziale'' “apothecary”, which comes from ''spezie'' “spices”.^(Körting 1907)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}