chiave Italian · revision 37923

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=late 12th century, Proverbia que dicuntur (Venetian)|origins=ine-pro *kleh₂u-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /ˈkja.ve/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''chiave''' ''f'' (plural chiavi)^(Wiktionary)

+ Old forms include [[roa-oit|clave]], [[roa-oit|chiavi]], [[roa-oit|ciave]] and [[roa-oit|chlave]].^(TLIO) Northern dialects had [[lmo|chiaf]] and [[lij|clhave]].^(LEI|14, 1421)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|la|clāvis|t=key; bar, bolt]], from the accusative.^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010)^(GRADIT 2003)^(Wiktionary) The word is pan-Romance: [[ro|cheie]], [[dlm|kluf]], [[fur|clâf]], [[rm|clav]], [[fr|clef]], [[oc|clau]], [[ca|clau]], [[es|llave]], [[pt|chave]] and [[sc|giae]].^(Nocentini 2010)^(LEI|14, 1420)^(REW 1935) DÉRom reconstructs a Proto-Romance form for it.^(DÉRom)

+

+ The Latin noun shares its root with [[m|la|claudō|t=to close]] and [[m|la|clāvus|t=nail]], the sources of [[chiudere]] and [[chiodo]].^(Nocentini 2010)^(DELI 1999) De Vaan traces it to [[itc-pro|*klāwis|t=bar, bolt]] and [[ine-pro|*kleh₂u-|t=to close]], with cognates in [[grc|κλείς|tr=kleís|t=bar, bolt; key]] and [[ru|ключ|tr=ključ|t=key]].^(de Vaan 2008)^(Nocentini 2010) DEI and Devoto think that the Latin word may have been a technical loan from Doric Greek.^(DEI|896)^(Devoto 1968)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The TLIO's first record is the Venetian ''Proverbia que dicuntur'' of the late 12th century, in the form ''clave''.^(TLIO)^(LEI|14, 1421) The first Tuscan record is a letter of Andrea de' Tolomei of 1262, with the sense “metal tool for opening and closing locks”.^(DELI 1999)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The figurative sense “the element that explains or solves something” is already found in Guidotto da Bologna at the beginning of the 13th century.^(DELI 1999) Dante's angel at the gate of Purgatory has a gold key and a silver one, and the keys became the emblem of St Peter and of the Church's authority.^(GDLI|3, 62)^(Zingarelli 2010) The cipher key is recorded in Giordano Bruno (1584–1585).^(DELI 1999)

+

+ In music the word names the clef from the 15th century (Pulci, before 1484); Zarlino explained that just as a key opens a door and shows what is inside, the clef opens the melody and shows its intervals.^(DELI 1999)^(DIFIT) French borrowed this sense as ''chiave'' in 1703 and German in 1732.^(DIFIT) The phrase ''in chiave di'', first of the violin or bass clef, came to mean “in the manner of”, for example ''in chiave ironica''; it is recorded from 1925.^(DELI 1999) Since 1952 ''chiave'' has also been used after a noun as an invariable adjective, “key, decisive”.^(DELI 1999) Technical senses include the spanner (''chiave inglese'') and the keystone of an arch (''chiave di volta'', 1875).^(Nocentini 2010)^(GDLI|3, 62)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * Late 12th century – Venetian ''clave'' appears in the ''Proverbia que dicuntur''.^(TLIO)^(LEI|14, 1421)

+ * Early 13th century – Guidotto da Bologna uses the figurative sense “key to a problem”.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1262 – ''Chiave'' appears in a letter of Andrea de' Tolomei.^(DELI 1999)

+ * Before 1484 – Pulci uses the word for a musical clef.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1584–1585 – Giordano Bruno uses ''chiave'' for a cipher key.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1703 – French borrows ''chiave'' as a music term.^(DIFIT)

+ * 1875 – ''Chiave di volta'' “keystone” is recorded.^(Nocentini 2010)

+ * 1952 – Corrado Alvaro uses ''chiave'' as an adjective, “decisive”.^(DELI 1999)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A [[m|en|key]] for opening and closing a lock: ''Ho perso le chiavi della macchina.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A key as a symbol of power or possession: ''le chiavi della città'', offered to a guest of honour.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+ # ''(figurative)'' What explains or solves something, or leads to a goal: ''la chiave dell'enigma''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+ # A word, number or code that deciphers a message or gives access to protected information.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+ # A key place of strategic importance.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+ # A [[m|en|spanner]] or [[m|en|wrench]]: ''chiave inglese'', an adjustable spanner.^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Gabrielli 2020)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A key for winding a mechanism or switching on a device: ''chiave d'accensione'', ignition key.^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Gabrielli 2020)

+ # ''(music)'' A [[m|en|clef]]: ''chiave di violino'', treble clef; also a key on a wind instrument.^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(metrics)'' In a canzone stanza, the line that links the two parts.^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(DELI 1999)

+ # ''in chiave'' + adjective: in a given tone or interpretation: ''una commedia in chiave moderna''.^(DELI 1999)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+

+ ===Adjective===

+ # ''(invariable, after a noun)'' Key, decisive: ''un ruolo chiave''.^(DELI 1999)^(Wiktionary)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[chiavetta]]

+ * [[chiavaio]]

+ * [[chiavarda]]

+ * [[chiavaccio]]

+ * [[chiavare]]

+ * [[sottochiave]]

+ * [[inchiavardare]]

+ * [[controchiave]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[chiudere]]

+ * [[chiodo]]

+ * [[clavicembalo]]

+ * [[la|clavis]]

+ * [[fr|clef]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ ''Chiudere a chiave'' is “to lock”, and ''tenere sotto chiave'' “to keep under lock and key”.^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Gabrielli 2020) ''Chiavi in mano'' “turnkey” describes a building, car or plant delivered ready for use, at an all-inclusive price.^(GDLI|3, 62)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}