peggio Italian · revision 38125

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=early 13th century, Gerardo Patecchio|origins=la peior}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /ˈpɛd.d͡ʒo/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''peggio''' (invariable)^(Wiktionary)

+ Old forms include [[roa-oit|pegio]], [[roa-oit|peio]], [[roa-oit|peo]] and [[roa-oit|pezo]].^(GDLI|12, 933) The earliest record, in the northern poet Gerardo Patecchio, is spelled [[roa-oit|peço]].^(DELI 1999)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|la|peius|alt=pēius|t=worse]], the neuter of [[m|la|peior|t=worse]], which served as the comparative of [[m|la|malus|t=bad]] and was used in Latin as an adverb.^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Wiktionary) Meyer-Lübke notes that the correct Latin spelling has a double consonant, which explains why the first syllable counts as long in verse.^(REW 1935) The same Latin word survives in [[fr|pis]] (as in [[m|fr|tant pis|t=so much the worse]]), [[oc|peitz]], [[rm|pis]] and [[sc|peus]].^(Nocentini 2010)^(DEI|2822)

+

+ Nocentini traces the Latin word to a verb formed from the root [[ine-pro|*ped-|t=foot]], meaning “to fall, to put a foot wrong”, a development like that of Italian [[scadente]] “poor in quality” from [[cadere]] “to fall”.^(Nocentini 2010) Devoto also derives it from a root meaning “to fall”, attested in Indic, Slavic and Germanic, and compares [[m|la|pessum|t=to the bottom, to ruin]].^(Devoto 1968|322) De Vaan connects that adverb with the comparative in the same way.^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The first record is the adjective “worse”, spelled ''peço'', in Gerardo Patecchio at the beginning of the 13th century; the adverb follows in Brunetto Latini, before 1294.^(DELI 1999)^(GRADIT 2003)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Dante's ''Paradiso'' uses the adverb for a tree that bears better and worse fruit (''meglio e peggio frutta'').^(GDLI|12, 933) Petrarch used it as a noun, “the worse”: “the evil presses on me, and the worse frightens me”.^(Tommaseo–Bellini 1861) Franco Sacchetti has the emphatic ''peggio che peggio'', and Agnolo Firenzuola already uses it before a noun as an adjective (''delle peggio maritate'', “among the worst-married”), a use that the dictionaries now label popular.^(Tommaseo–Bellini 1861)^(GRADIT 2003)

+

+ Modern Italian uses it as adverb, invariable adjective and noun; the noun gives phrases such as ''avere la peggio'' “to come off worst” and ''alla peggio'' “if the worst comes to the worst”.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Treccani 2011) In standard use the adjective is mostly a predicate (''è peggio''), while before a noun [[peggiore]] is the usual form.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * Early 13th century – Gerardo Patecchio uses the adjective, spelled ''peço''.^(DELI 1999)

+ * Before 1294 – Brunetto Latini uses the adverb.^(DELI 1999)

+ * c. 1316–1321 – Dante uses ''peggio'' in the ''Paradiso''.^(GDLI|12, 933)

+ * 14th century – Petrarch uses ''il peggio'' as a noun.^(Tommaseo–Bellini 1861)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adverb===

+ # [[m|en|worse]], in a worse way; the comparative of [[male]]: ''Oggi la squadra ha giocato peggio di domenica.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+ # With ''stare'' or ''sentirsi'': in worse health or circumstances: ''Dopo la cura il paziente sta peggio.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Gabrielli 2020)

+ # Before a past participle, forming a comparative of inferiority: ''È la casa peggio arredata del paese.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+

+ ===Adjective===

+ # ''(invariable)'' Worse, especially after ''essere'', ''sembrare'' and similar verbs: ''Il secondo film è peggio del primo.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Treccani 2011)

+ # ''(popular)'' With the definite article before a noun: the worst.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # The worst thing or part: ''Speriamo che il peggio sia passato.''^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Treccani 2011)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[peggiore]]

+ * [[peggiorare]]

+ * [[pessimo]]

+ * [[meglio]]

+ * [[la|peior]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Fixed phrases include ''di male in peggio'' “from bad to worse”, ''tanto peggio'' “so much the worse” and ''peggio che andar di notte'', said when things keep getting worse.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Treccani 2011)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}