riguardo Italian · revision 37952

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=first half of the 13th century|origins=gem-pro *wardōną}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /riˈɡwar.do/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''riguardo''' ''m'' (plural riguardi)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is a noun formed from the verb [[riguardare]] “to look at again; to concern”, which is [[af|it|ri-|guardare]].^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010)^(GRADIT 2003)^(Wiktionary) The GDLI compares [[fr|regard]].^(GDLI|16, 345) The verb [[guardare]] is a medieval Germanic loan, from [[gem-pro|*wardōną|alt=*wardōn|t=to watch; to guard]], the source also of [[goh|wartēn]] and [[ang|weardian]]; the same Germanic verb gave [[fr|garder]] and [[es|guardar]].^(Nocentini 2010)^(REW 1935)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Nocentini and Devoto–Oli date the noun to the first half of the 13th century, and GRADIT to before 1250.^(Nocentini 2010)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(GRADIT 2003) Its first sense was “look, glance”: a poem by Giacomo da Lentini or Guido delle Colonne speaks of “li riguardi de li occhi ridenti” (the glances of the laughing eyes).^(GDLI|16, 345) DELI dates “care, caution” to Guido Guinizelli (before 1276).^(DELI 1999)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Dante still used ''riguardo'' for a glance, “Questi onde a me ritorna il tuo riguardo” (this one, from whom your gaze returns to me), and also for “esteem, regard”; in the ''Inferno'' the strait where Hercules set ''li suoi riguardi'' means the boundary marks he placed.^(DELI 1999)^(GRADIT 2003)^(GDLI|16, 345) The sense “care for one's health” is recorded in the 15th century.^(DELI 1999)

+

+ The sense “relation, connection” is recorded in 1855, when Ugolini called it irregular; it lives on in ''al riguardo'' “on this point” and the prepositional phrases ''riguardo a'' and ''nei riguardi di''.^(DELI 1999)^(GRADIT 2003)^(Zingarelli 2010) The obsolete senses “interest on a loan” and “reason, motive” have gone out of use.^(Zingarelli 2010)^(GRADIT 2003)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * Before 1250 – The word is used for a glance.^(GRADIT 2003)^(GDLI|16, 345)

+ * Before 1276 – Guido Guinizelli uses it for “care, caution”.^(DELI 1999)

+ * Before 1321 – Dante uses it for “esteem, regard”.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 15th century – The sense “care for one's health” is recorded.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1855 – Ugolini records the sense “relation” and calls it irregular.^(DELI 1999)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # [[m|en|care]], caution in handling or using something: ''Maneggia quella lampada con riguardo.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+ # Care for one's health: ''Dopo l'operazione deve avere riguardo di sé.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+ # [[m|en|respect]], consideration, courtesy toward someone: ''Lo hanno trattato con ogni riguardo'', ''di riguardo'', important, deserving respect: ''un ospite di riguardo''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Treccani 2011)

+ # Scruple, restraint: ''senza tanti riguardi'', bluntly, without ceremony.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Treccani 2011)

+ # Relation, connection: ''al riguardo'', ''a questo riguardo'', on this point.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+

+ ===Preposition===

+ # ''riguardo a'': about, regarding, as for: ''Riguardo al prezzo, ne parliamo domani.''^(Zingarelli 2010)^(GRADIT 2003)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[riguardoso]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[riguardare]]

+ * [[guardare]]

+ * [[sguardo]]

+ * [[fr|regard]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ ''Nei riguardi di'' means “toward, with regard to”.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Gabrielli 2020) In bookbinding ''riguardo'' is a variant of ''risguardo'', the endpaper.^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}