pericoloso Italian · revision 38064

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

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /pe.ri.koˈlo.zo/, /pe.ri.koˈlo.so/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''pericoloso''' (feminine pericolosa, masculine plural pericolosi, feminine plural pericolose, superlative pericolosissimo)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is a learned word, [[bor|la|perīculōsus|t=dangerous]], from [[m|la|perīculum|t=trial, attempt; risk, danger]] and the suffix [[m|la|-ōsus]].^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010)^(GRADIT 2003)^(Wiktionary) Wiktionary considers it probably a semi-learned borrowing;^(Wiktionary)^(DELI 1999) Italian [[pericolo]] is also learned.^(Wiktionary)^(DELI 1999) Old and dialect forms are [[roa-oit|periculoso]], [[m|roa-oit|perigoloso]], [[m|roa-oit|piricoloso]] and the Tuscan [[m|roa-oit|pricoloso]], and Körting gives [[m|roa-oit|periglioso]] beside it.^(GDLI)^(Körting 1907)

+

+ The Latin adjective has outcomes throughout Romance: [[ro|periculos]], [[pro|perilhos]], [[fr|périlleux]], [[ca|perillós]], [[es|peligroso]] and [[pt|perigoso]].^(Körting 1907) The Latin noun first meant “a trial, experiment” and comes from a verb [[m|la|*perior|alt=*perīrī|t=to try]], seen in [[m|la|perītus|t=experienced]] and [[m|la|experior|t=to try, test]].^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The first record is ''periculoso'' in Guittone d'Arezzo, before 1294, writing of earthly greatness, “come è affannosa e periculosa ad acquistare” (how wearisome and dangerous to acquire).^(DELI 1999)^(GDLI|13, 29) Zingarelli dates the word to about 1261.^(Zingarelli 2010) The form ''pericoloso'' is in Dino Compagni (1310–1312).^(DELI 1999)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ At first the word meant “full of risks”; of a person or thing that can do harm it is recorded about 1304 in Giordano da Pisa.^(DELI 1999) Dante has the superlative in the ''Convivio'': “pericolosissima negligenza”.^(GDLI|13, 29) In the 20th century it entered law and sport: ''pericolosità'' (criminal dangerousness) is first recorded in 1912, and ''gioco pericoloso'', a foul in football, in 1970.^(DELI 1999) A regional modern use, “reckless, daredevil”, is in the GDLI's supplement.^(GDLI)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * Before 1294 – Guittone d'Arezzo writes ''periculoso''.^(DELI 1999)^(GRADIT 2003)

+ * About 1304 – Giordano da Pisa uses it for something that can do harm.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1310–1312 – Dino Compagni has the form ''pericoloso''.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1912 – The noun ''pericolosità'' appears in criminal law.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1970 – Zingarelli records ''gioco pericoloso'' in football.^(DELI 1999)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # [[m|en|dangerous]], risky: ''un incrocio pericoloso''; impersonally: ''È pericoloso nuotare qui con la bandiera rossa.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Of a person, likely to do harm, a threat to others: ''un criminale pericoloso''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+ # Of an animal, aggressive towards people.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)

+ # Of an illness or wound, serious.^(GRADIT 2003)

+ # Liable to bring pain or disappointment; delicate, ticklish: ''un argomento pericoloso''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+ # ''gioco pericoloso'': in football, dangerous play, a foul with the leg raised.^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Treccani 2011)^(Gabrielli 2020)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[pericolosità]]

+ * [[pericolosamente]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[pericolo]]

+ * [[spericolato]]

+ * [[la|perīculōsus]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ The ⟨s⟩ is pronounced either /z/ or /s/;^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Wiktionary) Sabatini–Coletti and Zingarelli give the voiced one first.^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}