chiaro Italian · revision 38019

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=early 13th century, Uguccione da Lodi|origins=ine-pro *kelh₁-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /ˈkja.ro/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''chiaro''' (feminine chiara, masculine plural chiari, feminine plural chiare, superlative chiarissimo, diminutive chiarétto)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|la|clārus|t=loud; bright, clear; famous]].^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010)^(GRADIT 2003)^(Wiktionary)^(DEI|894) The word is pan-Romance: [[fr|clair]], [[oc|clar]], [[ca|clar]], [[sc|giaru]] and [[ro|chiar|t=just, exactly]], which survives only as an adverb, while [[es|claro]] and [[pt|claro]] are of learned tradition.^(Nocentini 2010)^(REW 1935)

+

+ The Latin adjective first described the voice, as in [[m|la|clāra vōx|t=a loud voice]], and only later what is seen.^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010)^(DEI|894) It belongs with [[m|la|calō|t=to call out]] and [[m|la|clāmō|t=to shout, call]], the source of [[chiamare]].^(Nocentini 2010)^(de Vaan 2008) De Vaan reconstructs [[itc-pro|*klāro-|t=loud]] and [[ine-pro|*kl̥h₁-ro-|t=loud, sonorous]], from the root [[ine-pro|*kelh₁-|t=to call]].^(de Vaan 2008)^(Wiktionary) The same shift from sound to light is found in [[de|hell|t=bright]] beside [[goh|hellan|t=to resound]].^(Nocentini 2010)^(de Vaan 2008) Wiktionary compares [[sq|qartë]].^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The TLIO's first record is in the ''Libro'' of Uguccione da Lodi, from Cremona, of the early 13th century.^(TLIO) DELI's first dated sense is “luminous”, in Bonagiunta Orbicciani before 1257, who compares himself to a child stretching out a hand to a fire that seems to him “chiaro e bello” (bright and beautiful).^(DELI 1999)^(GDLI|3, 54)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The meanings of the Latin word came back one by one in the 13th and 14th centuries: “pale, light” of a colour before 1292 (Bono Giamboni), “pure, limpid” in Dante's ''Vita nuova'' (1293–1294), “famous” in the ''Convivio'' (1304–1308), “easy to understand” in the ''Commedia'' (before 1321), “honest, sincere” in Giovanni Villani (before 1348), and “clear-sounding” of the voice in Boccaccio (1353).^(DELI 1999) Old Italian also used it for the soul free of sin and for clear water and glass.^(TLIO) The noun ''chiaro'' “light, brightness” appears in Restoro d'Arezzo in 1282 and in Dante's ''Paradiso'', where light and dark are “lo turbo e 'l chiaro”.^(TLIO)^(DELI 1999)^(GDLI|3, 54)

+

+ Derivatives followed the same lines: ''chiara'' “egg white” (about 1350), ''chiarezza'' “clearness” (1305–1306), ''chiarire'' “to make clear”, and the learned ''chiarificare''.^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010) The painters' term [[chiaroscuro]] is a compound of ''chiaro'' and [[scuro]] (16th century), while ''chiaroveggente'' “clairvoyant” is a calque on [[fr|clairvoyant]] and the wine ''chiaretto'' takes its name from [[fr|claret]].^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * Early 13th century – Uguccione da Lodi uses ''chiaro''.^(TLIO)

+ * Before 1257 – Bonagiunta uses it for “luminous”.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1282 – The noun ''chiaro'' “brightness” in Restoro d'Arezzo.^(TLIO)

+ * Before 1292 – Bono Giamboni uses it of a pale colour.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1304–1308 – Dante uses it for “famous” in the ''Convivio''.^(DELI 1999)

+ * Before 1321 – Dante uses it for “easy to understand”.^(DELI 1999)

+ * About 1350 – ''Chiara'' “egg white” is recorded.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1353 – Boccaccio uses it of a clear-sounding voice.^(DELI 1999)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # [[m|en|bright]], full of light: ''una cucina chiara e spaziosa''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Of the sky or weather, [[m|en|clear]], cloudless: ''Domani sarà una giornata chiara.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)

+ # Of water or another liquid, limpid, [[m|en|transparent]].^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)

+ # Of a colour, [[m|en|light]], pale; of things, light-coloured: ''azzurro chiaro'', ''una giacca chiara''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)

+ # Of a sound or voice, distinct, clear-toned.^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(DELI 1999)

+ # Easy to understand; [[m|en|evident]], obvious: ''La spiegazione era chiara a tutti'', ''è chiaro che'' “it is clear that”.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Of a person, expressing himself or herself clearly: ''La relatrice è stata chiarissima.''^(GRADIT 2003)

+ # ''(literary)'' Famous, [[m|en|illustrious]]: ''di chiara fama''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(figurative)'' Frank, sincere: ''uno sguardo chiaro''.^(GRADIT 2003)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # Light, brightness: ''chiaro di luna'' “moonlight”.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A light colour.^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ===Adverb===

+ # Clearly, frankly: ''parlare chiaro'', ''chiaro e tondo'' “plainly”.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[chiara]]

+ * [[chiarezza]]

+ * [[chiarire]]

+ * [[chiarimento]]

+ * [[chiarificare]]

+ * [[chiarificazione]]

+ * [[chiarore]]

+ * [[chiaretto]]

+ * [[chiaroscuro]]

+ * [[chiaroveggente]]

+ * [[chiaramente]]

+ * [[schiarire]]

+ * [[rischiarare]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[Chiara]]

+ * [[chiamare]]

+ * [[la|clārus]]

+ * [[fr|clair]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Common phrases include ''mettere in chiaro'' “to clear up”, ''vederci chiaro'' “to get to the bottom of something”, ''avere le idee chiare'' and ''con questi chiari di luna'' “in times like these”.^(GRADIT 2003)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}