proteggere Italian · revision 38089

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=before 1338, Valerio Massimo volgarizzato (Florentine)|origins=ine-pro *(s)teg-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /proˈtɛd.d͡ʒe.re/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''proteggere''' (first-person singular present protèggo, first-person singular past historic protèssi, past participle protètto, auxiliary avére)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is a learned word, [[bor|la|prōtegō|t=to cover in front; to protect]], from [[m|la|prō-|t=in front]] and [[m|la|tegō|t=to cover]].^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010)^(GRADIT 2003)^(Wiktionary) The Latin verb goes back to [[ine-pro|*(s)teg-|t=to cover with a roof]], the source also of [[grc|τέγος|tr=tégos|t=roof]].^(Wiktionary) Its past participle [[m|la|prōtēctus]] and the Late Latin nouns [[m|la|prōtēctor]] and [[m|la|prōtēctiō]] gave Italian [[protetto]], [[protettore]] and [[protezione]].^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010) The same Latin verb was borrowed as [[fr|protéger]] (1395) and [[es|proteger]].^(GDLI|14, 731)^(Nocentini 2010)

+

+ [[protettorato|alt=Protettorato]] is [[en|protectorate]], used of Cromwell's rule in 1692 and as a term of international law in 1836, according to DELI.^(DELI 1999) Nocentini derives it within Italian from “protettore”.^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010) [[protezionismo|alt=Protezionismo]] and [[protezionista]] are [[fr|protectionnisme]] and [[m|fr|protectionniste]], both of 1845.^(DELI 1999)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The TLIO's first record is the Florentine translation of Valerius Maximus, whose first version is from before 1338, in the senses “to shelter, preserve” and “to defend from danger”.^(TLIO) The dictionaries give later dates: Sabatini–Coletti the 14th century, Zingarelli before 1420, GRADIT 1529, and DELI only 1598, in John Florio, for “to defend”.^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)^(GRADIT 2003)^(DELI 1999)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The physical sense “to cover as a shelter” is dated by DELI to Anton Maria Salvini (before 1729), who wrote of the sky spread over the earth “guarding and protecting” it.^(DELI 1999)^(Tommaseo–Bellini 1861) Foscolo's ''Dei sepolcri'' asks the palms and cypresses to “proteggete i miei padri” (protect my fathers).^(GDLI|14, 731) The sense “to promote an activity”, as industry or the arts, is from 1804, and gave rise to the economic vocabulary of protection in the 19th century.^(DELI 1999)

+

+ In modern use the verb also means to favour someone unfairly, and in computing to protect a file or program against copying or change.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026) ''Che Dio ti protegga!'' is a formula of good wishes.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Treccani 2011)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1260 – ''Protettore'' in the Laude of Cortona.^(DELI 1999)

+ * Before 1321 – Dante uses ''protezione''.^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010)

+ * Before 1338 – The Florentine Valerius Maximus uses ''proteggere''.^(TLIO)

+ * 1395 – French ''protéger'' is recorded.^(GDLI|14, 731)

+ * 1598 – John Florio's dictionary records ''proteggere'' “to defend”.^(DELI 1999)

+ * Before 1729 – Salvini uses it for covering as a shelter.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1804 – The sense “to promote an activity”.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1849 – ''Protezionista'' is recorded.^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To [[m|en|protect]], to shelter, act as a cover against something: ''Questa giacca protegge bene dal vento.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To keep safe, preserve: ''Abbiamo coperto le piante per proteggerle dal gelo.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)

+ # To defend from a danger or threat: ''Una scorta proteggeva il ministro.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+ # ''(figurative)'' To safeguard rights, honour or interests: ''La legge deve proteggere i più deboli.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+ # To help, support someone in need; to favour someone, often unfairly: ''È stato promosso perché il capo lo protegge.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Treccani 2011)

+ # To promote an activity: ''proteggere la musica antica''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Treccani 2011)

+ # ''(computing)'' To protect data or a program against change, copying or unauthorized access.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[protettivo]]

+ * [[protetto]]

+ * [[protettore]]

+ * [[protezione]]

+ * [[protettorato]]

+ * [[protezionismo]]

+ * [[protezionista]]

+ * [[protezionistico]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[tetto]]

+ * [[la|prōtegō]]

+ * [[fr|protéger]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ The reflexive ''proteggersi'' means “to protect oneself”, as from cold or sun.^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Treccani 2011)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}