piangere Italian · revision 38017

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=before 1250, Giacomo da Lentini|origins=ine-pro *pleh₂k-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /ˈpjan.d͡ʒe.re/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''piangere''' (first-person singular present piàngo, first-person singular past historic piànsi, past participle piànto, auxiliary avére)^(Wiktionary)

+ The older and regional form [[piagnere]] is still used in literature.^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Wiktionary) Old forms include [[roa-oit|pianzere]] and [[roa-oit|piaggere]].^(GDLI|13)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|la|plangō|alt=plangere|t=to strike, beat; to beat one's breast, mourn]].^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010)^(GRADIT 2003)^(Wiktionary) The sense moved from striking to weeping through the gesture of beating one's breast in grief;^(DELI 1999)^(Devoto–Oli 2026) Migliorini notes that plain weeping was no longer enough, so people tore their cheeks and beat their breasts, and the verbs for these gestures came to mean “to lament” and “to weep”.^(DELI 1999)^(Devoto–Oli 2026) GDLI adds that it replaced, together with the older [[la|plōrō]], the classical [[la|fleō|t=to weep]].^(GDLI|13)

+

+ The same verb is [[ro|plânge]], [[fr|plaindre|t=to pity; to complain]], [[oc|planher]], [[ca|plànyer]] and [[es|plañir]].^(Nocentini 2010)^(REW 1935)^(Wiktionary) The Latin verb has a nasal present; de Vaan reconstructs [[itc-pro|*plāngō]] and [[ine-pro|*plh₂-n-g-|t=to hit]], with [[grc|πλάζω|tr=plázō|t=to drive off course]] and [[got|𐍆𐌰𐌹𐍆𐌻𐍉𐌺𐌿𐌽|tr=faiflokun|t=they beat]] as cognates.^(de Vaan 2008) Nocentini compares [[grc|πλήσσω|tr=plḗssō|t=to strike]], [[lt|plàkti|t=to strike]] and [[ru|пла́кать|tr=plákatʹ|t=to weep]], which shows the same development.^(Nocentini 2010)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ The past participle [[pianto]] “weeping” continues [[la|plānctus]], and the variant [[piagnere]] gave [[piagnone]] and [[piagnisteo]].^(Nocentini 2010)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The first record is in Giacomo da Lentini, of the Sicilian school, before 1250, in the sense “to shed tears from grief or emotion”.^(DELI 1999)^(GRADIT 2003) The infinitive used as a noun, “weeping”, is in an anonymous poet of the first half of the 13th century.^(DELI 1999)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ By the end of the 13th century the verb also meant “to suffer greatly” (Brunetto Latini, before 1294), and Dante used it transitively for “to lament, mourn” someone or something (before 1321); “to shed (tears)” is of the 14th century.^(DELI 1999) The noun ''pianto'' is as old as the verb, and ''piangente'' “weeping” is in Boccaccio (1341–1342).^(DELI 1999)

+

+ Figurative uses extend the verb to animals that whimper, to plants and trees that drip sap, and to rain.^(GRADIT 2003) Idioms include ''piangere sul latte versato'' “to cry over spilt milk”, ''piangere miseria'' “to plead poverty”, ''piangere come una vite tagliata'' “to cry one's eyes out” and ''ridere per non piangere''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026) In card games ''il piatto piange'' says that someone has not paid into the pot.^(GRADIT 2003)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * Before 1250 – Giacomo da Lentini uses ''piangere'' “to weep”.^(DELI 1999)^(GRADIT 2003)

+ * First half of the 13th century – The nominalized ''piangere'' “weeping”.^(DELI 1999)

+ * Before 1294 – Brunetto Latini uses it for “to suffer greatly”.^(DELI 1999)

+ * Before 1321 – Dante uses it transitively, “to mourn”.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1341–1342 – ''Piangente'' in Boccaccio.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 14th century – “to shed (tears)” in Rinieri dei Rinaldeschi.^(DELI 1999)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Verb===

+ # ''(intransitive)'' To [[m|en|weep]], to [[m|en|cry]], shedding tears from grief, emotion or pain: ''Il bambino piangeva perché aveva perso il pallone'', ''piangere di gioia''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(intransitive)'' Of the eyes, to water from an irritant: ''Mi piangono gli occhi quando taglio la cipolla.''^(GRADIT 2003)

+ # ''(intransitive)'' To suffer, to lament one's troubles: ''piangere sui propri guai''.^(GRADIT 2003)

+ # ''(intransitive)'' Of animals, to whimper, ''(figurative)'' to drip, ooze.^(GRADIT 2003)

+ # ''(transitive)'' To [[m|en|mourn]], grieve for: ''Tutto il paese pianse la sua morte.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(DELI 1999)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)

+ # ''(transitive)'' To shed: ''piangere lacrime amare''.^(DELI 1999)^(GRADIT 2003)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[piangente]]

+ * [[pianto]]

+ * [[piagnisteo]]

+ * [[piagnone]]

+ * [[piagnucolare]]

+ * [[compiangere]]

+ * [[compianto]]

+ * [[rimpiangere]]

+ * [[rimpianto]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[piaga]]

+ * [[la|plangō]]

+ * [[fr|plaindre]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}