occupare Italian · revision 37985

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

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /ok.kuˈpa.re/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''occupare''' (first-person singular present òccupo, first-person singular past historic occupài, past participle occupàto, auxiliary avére)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is a learned word, [[bor|la|occupō|t=to seize, take possession of]].^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010)^(GRADIT 2003)^(Wiktionary) The Latin verb is formed from the intensive prefix [[m|la|ob-]] and the root of [[m|la|capiō|t=to take]].^(DELI 1999)^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026) Devoto explains the ⟨-u-⟩ as the normal Latin weakening of ⟨-a-⟩ before ⟨p⟩ in an open inner syllable, in a durative stem *-capāre;^(Devoto 1968) de Vaan thinks the verb was first formed on a noun in [[m|la|-ceps|t=taker]], like [[m|la|anticipō|t=to take beforehand]].^(de Vaan 2008) The same learned word is [[fr|occuper]] and [[es|ocupar]].^(Nocentini 2010)

+

+ A popular outcome of the Latin verb may survive in Lucchese ⟨copo⟩ “full”, as DEI and Meyer-Lübke suggest,^(REW 1935)^(DEI|2624) and in a dialect derivative, [[pt|cupada|t=pregnant]].^(REW 1935) Latin [[m|la|capiō]] goes back to [[itc-pro|*kap-i-]]; the root is shared with [[got|𐌷𐌰𐍆𐌾𐌰𐌽|tr=hafjan|t=to lift]], but de Vaan doubts that it is Indo-European in origin.^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ DELI's first record is Guittone d'Arezzo (before 1294), with the sense “to invade a place and keep it for oneself”.^(DELI 1999)^(GRADIT 2003) Guittone wrote that need forces one “l'altrui occupare” (to seize what belongs to others).^(GDLI|11, 791) The Florentine ''Ordinamenti di giustizia'' forbid anyone, above all the magnates, to take or hold against right the possessions of monasteries, churches or hospitals.^(Tommaseo–Bellini 1861)^(GDLI|11, 791)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In the 14th century the verb spread from seizure to filling and using: Dante has it for “to come and live in a place” (1304–1308), the ''Vite dei Santi Padri'' for filling a space, and Dino Compagni for putting something to use (1310–1312).^(DELI 1999) Matteo Villani (before 1363) applies it to holding an office.^(DELI 1999) The GDLI notes that in common use the verb long implied an illegitimate taking, even one made in good faith.^(GDLI|11, 791)

+

+ The pronominal ''occuparsi'' “to apply oneself to something” is recorded in the 14th century, in the vernacular Guido delle Colonne; later senses are “to look after someone” (1825), “to take a job” (1790) and “to meddle”, which Tommaseo illustrates with ''s'occupa de' fatti miei'' (1869).^(DELI 1999) The sense “to employ someone” appears in the Milanese press in 1802.^(DELI 1999) The noun ''occupazione'' followed the same path, from the act of seizing (1301) to “work, employment” (1760–1761) and, in economics, “the employed workforce” (1958).^(DELI 1999) The modern dictionaries also record the taking over of factories, schools or houses as a protest.^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * Before 1294 – Guittone d'Arezzo uses ''occupare'' “to seize”.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1301 – ''Occupazione'' is recorded in a statute.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1304–1308 – Dante uses the verb for “to come to live in”.^(DELI 1999)

+ * Before 1342 – Domenico Cavalca uses ''occupato'' “busy”.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 14th century – The pronominal ''occuparsi'' “to apply oneself” appears.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1802 – ''Occupare'' “to employ” appears in the Milanese press.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1869 – Tommaseo records ''occuparsi'' for “to meddle”.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1963 – ''Occupazionale'', modelled on English ''occupational'', is recorded.^(DELI 1999)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To take [[m|en|possession]] of a place and settle in it, lawfully or not; to [[m|en|occupy]] a building as a protest: ''Gli studenti hanno occupato il liceo per tre giorni.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Treccani 2011)

+ # To invade and hold a territory by military force: ''L'esercito occupò le colline intorno alla città.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+ # To reserve or take a seat or place for one's own use: ''Puoi occuparmi una sedia vicino al palco?''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+ # To fill or take up a space, ''(figurative)'' to take up part of a text: ''Il pianoforte occupa mezza sala.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Treccani 2011)

+ # To hold an office or position: ''Occupa da anni la carica di sindaco.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+ # To [[m|en|employ]], give work to: ''La nuova fabbrica occuperà duecento persone.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Treccani 2011)

+ # To spend or fill time; to keep someone busy or absorbed: ''Occupa le serate leggendo gialli.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+ # ''occuparsi'': to deal with, work on or take an interest in something; to look after someone: ''Mia sorella si occupa di restauro.''^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Treccani 2011)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[occupazione]]

+ * [[occupato]]

+ * [[occupante]]

+ * [[occupabile]]

+ * [[occupazionale]]

+ * [[disoccupato]]

+ * [[disoccupazione]]

+ * [[sottoccupato]]

+ * [[rioccupare]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[preoccupare]]

+ * [[capire]]

+ * [[la|occupō]]

+ * [[fr|occuper]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ The present is stressed on the first syllable, ''òccupo'';^(Wiktionary)^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Devoto–Oli 2026) Zingarelli records the stress ''occùpo'' as obsolete and poetic.^(Wiktionary)^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Devoto–Oli 2026) ''Occupati dei fatti tuoi'' “mind your own business” is a common rebuke.^(Treccani 2011)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}