interessare Italian · revision 37957

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=before 1540, Francesco Guicciardini|origins=la intersum}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /in.te.resˈsa.re/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''interessare''' (first-person singular present interèsso, first-person singular past historic interessài, past participle interessàto, auxiliary (transitive) avére or (intransitive) èssere)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is formed [[af|it|interesse|-are]], from the noun meaning “interest”.^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010)^(GRADIT 2003)^(Wiktionary) GRADIT compares [[fr|intéresser]], recorded in 1423, and Panzini in the early 20th century held that the noun, the verb and the adjective in ⟨-ante⟩ had all come from French long before, though they were too established to be condemned.^(GRADIT 2003)^(DELI 1999)

+

+ The noun is a learned word, [[la-med|intersum|alt=interesse|t=advantage, profit]], a legal term made by using as a noun the infinitive of the impersonal [[la|interest|t=it matters]], from [[m|la|inter|t=between]] and [[m|la|sum|alt=esse|t=to be]].^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010) [[m|la|inter]] continues [[ine-pro|*h₁entér|t=between]], an adverb built on [[m|ine-pro|*h₁en|t=in]], and the verb “to be” continues [[m|ine-pro|*h₁es-|t=to be]].^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ DELI's first record is Francesco Guicciardini (before 1540), in the sense “to bring someone in on one's side, get him to intervene”: in a letter he urges that French help be sought, “cioè di interessarci el re” (that is, to get the king involved for us).^(DELI 1999)^(GDLI|8, 228) Zingarelli dates the verb to 1527.^(Zingarelli 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The verb first belonged to politics and business: to give someone a share or a stake in an affair, and so make him take part.^(GDLI|8, 228)^(DELI 1999) Annibal Caro uses it before 1566 for “to make someone take an interest in something”, and Galileo before 1642 for “to concern closely”.^(DELI 1999) The sense “to arouse attention or curiosity” is recorded in Sforza Pallavicino (1662), and “to be of use or importance” in Antonio Cocchi (before 1758).^(DELI 1999)^(Tommaseo–Bellini 1861)

+

+ The pronominal ''interessarsi'' “to take an interest” appears in Iacopo Pitti before 1589, and “to deal with, see to” in Soderini's treatise on vines before 1597.^(DELI 1999) Purists of the early 19th century, such as Lissoni in 1831, rejected several of these senses as French, but they spread; the intransitive “to matter” (''mi interessa'') is recorded in 1812.^(DELI 1999) Modern Italian also uses the verb for things that affect an area or an organ: a storm or an infection ''interessa'' a region or the lungs.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1423 – French ''intéresser'' is recorded.^(GRADIT 2003)

+ * 1527 – Zingarelli's date for the verb.^(Zingarelli 2010)

+ * Before 1540 – Guicciardini uses it for “to get someone to intervene”.^(DELI 1999)^(GRADIT 2003)

+ * Before 1566 – Annibal Caro uses it for “to make someone take an interest”.^(DELI 1999)

+ * Before 1589 – Iacopo Pitti uses ''interessarsi''.^(DELI 1999)

+ * Before 1642 – Galileo uses it for “to concern closely”.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1662 – Sforza Pallavicino uses it for “to arouse interest”.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1812 – The intransitive “to matter” is recorded.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1831 – Lissoni rejects several senses as foreign.^(DELI 1999)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Verb===

+ # ''(transitive)'' To [[m|en|interest]], to arouse someone's attention or [[m|en|curiosity]]: ''Il documentario ha interessato anche i più piccoli.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+ # ''(transitive)'' To [[m|en|concern]], to affect directly: ''La riforma interessa migliaia di pensionati''; also of weather or an illness that affects an area or organ: ''La perturbazione interesserà le regioni del nord.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Treccani 2011)

+ # ''(transitive, with a)'' To get someone interested or involved in something: ''interessare i ragazzi alla lettura''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+ # ''(transitive)'' To get someone to [[m|en|intervene]] on one's behalf: ''Ho interessato il sindaco alla questione.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Treccani 2011)

+ # ''(intransitive, with essere and a)'' To matter, to be important to someone: ''A me interessa solo che tu stia bene.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+ # ''interessarsi'' (with a or di): to take an interest in, to be keen on: ''Si interessa di fotografia da anni.''^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Treccani 2011)

+ # ''interessarsi di'': to see to, to take care of; also to [[m|en|meddle]] in: ''Mi interesso io dei biglietti.''^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Gabrielli 2020)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[interessante]]

+ * [[interessato]]

+ * [[interessamento]]

+ * [[disinteressare]]

+ * [[cointeressare]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[interessarsi]]

+ * [[interesse]]

+ * [[disinteresse]]

+ * [[fr|intéresser]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Transitive uses take ''avere'', the intransitive ''mi interessa'' takes ''essere''.^(Wiktionary)^(Zingarelli 2010) With a clause as subject the verb is impersonal: ''non le interessa partire''.^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}