dimostrare Italian · revision 38160

+ {{infobox|confidence=probable|formation=inherited|attested=first half of the 13th century, Iacopo Mostacci|origins=la monstrum}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /di.mosˈtra.re/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''dimostrare''' (first-person singular present dimóstro, first-person singular past historic dimostrài, past participle dimostràto, auxiliary avére)^(Wiktionary)

+ Old forms include [[roa-oit|demostrare]], [[roa-oit|demonstrare]], [[roa-oit|demustrare]] and [[roa-oit|dismostrare]].^(GDLI)^(TLIO)^(LEI|19, 1007)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|la|dēmōnstrō|t=to point out, show; to prove]], from [[m|la|mōnstrō|t=to show]] with the prefix [[m|la|dē-]].^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010)^(GRADIT 2003)^(Wiktionary) Nocentini derives the simple verb from [[m|la|mōnstrum|t=sign; portent]], the source of [[mostro]].^(Nocentini 2010) The verb continues in [[fur|dimostrâ]], [[fro|demustrer]], [[pro|demostrar]], [[ca|demostrar]] and [[es|demostrar]].^(LEI|19, 1007)^(Nocentini 2010)

+

+ The sources disagree on the route.^(LEI|19, 1007)^(GDLI)^(Zingarelli 2010) Meyer-Lübke and Faré took the verb for a learned word, and it has no place in the REW; the GDLI and DEI call it semi-learned, and Zingarelli learned.^(LEI|19, 1007)^(GDLI)^(DEI|1307)^(Zingarelli 2010) The LEI, after Wartburg and Cortelazzo, treats the Italian verb as a popular word, set apart from the learned [[roa-oit|demonstrare]] that keeps the ⟨n⟩, since in its form it does not differ from the simple [[mostrare]].^(LEI|19, 1007) Devoto saw in it the Latin verb remade on the simple verb with the prefix [[di-]].^(Devoto 1968)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The TLIO's first record is Iacopo Mostacci, in the first half of the 13th century;^(TLIO)^(DELI 1999)^(GRADIT 2003) DELI's first date is Iacopo d'Aquino, at the beginning of the 13th century, in the sense “to show openly a state, a quality or a feeling”.^(TLIO)^(DELI 1999)^(GRADIT 2003) Iacopo d'Aquino writes “Ma non ch'eo già pertanto / dimostri la cagione / de la mia gioi” (but not that I therefore show the cause of my joy).^(GDLI)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Guittone d'Arezzo, before 1294, has the senses “to prove the truth of a statement or doctrine” and “to explain, teach”, and Dante the reflexive “to show oneself, prove to be”.^(DELI 1999) The TLIO adds an old sense “to appear in person”.^(TLIO) The noun [[dimostrazione]] is in Dante (1304–1308) for a proof, and the grammatical [[dimostrativo]] before 1332.^(DELI 1999)

+

+ In the 19th century ''dimostrazione'' took the sense “public demonstration” (1839, in the Milanese press), and Fanfani and Arlìa complained in 1877 of the crowds that went shouting and whistling under officials' windows;^(DELI 1999) ''dimostrante'', a demonstrator, is recorded in 1867.^(DELI 1999) The verb itself took the intransitive sense “to demonstrate, take part in a demonstration” in the 20th century: Migliorini dates it to 1945.^(DELI 1999)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(DEI|1307) The formula ''come volevasi dimostrare'' closes a proof, and is used ironically of an expected result.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Treccani 2011)^(Gabrielli 2020)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * Early 13th century – Iacopo d'Aquino uses ''dimostrare'' “to show openly”.^(DELI 1999)

+ * Before 1294 – Guittone d'Arezzo uses it for “to prove” and “to explain”.^(DELI 1999)

+ * Before 1321 – Dante uses the reflexive “to show oneself”.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1839 – ''Dimostrazione'' “public demonstration” appears in the Milanese press.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1867 – ''Dimostrante'' “demonstrator” is recorded.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1945 – The intransitive sense “to demonstrate” is recorded.^(DELI 1999)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+ * 1963 – ''Dimostratore'' “product demonstrator” is recorded.^(DELI 1999)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To show, to [[m|en|display]] a feeling, quality or condition clearly: ''Ha dimostrato molto coraggio in quella situazione.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+ # To look (a given age): ''Ha sessant'anni ma ne dimostra molti meno.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Treccani 2011)

+ # To [[m|en|prove]] the truth of a statement by reasoning or evidence: ''Lo studente ha dimostrato il teorema alla lavagna.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+ # Of a thing, to be proof of: ''Questi dati dimostrano che il piano funziona.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+ # To explain or illustrate, especially by showing how something works: ''La commessa ci ha dimostrato come si usa il robot.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+ # ''(intransitive)'' To [[m|en|demonstrate]], to take part in a public demonstration: ''Migliaia di persone hanno dimostrato davanti al parlamento.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+ # ''(reflexive, dimostrarsi)'' To prove to be, show oneself: ''La scelta si è dimostrata giusta.''^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[dimostrazione]]

+ * [[dimostrativo]]

+ * [[dimostrabile]]

+ * [[dimostrabilità]]

+ * [[dimostrante]]

+ * [[dimostratore]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[mostrare]]

+ * [[mostro]]

+ * [[la|dēmōnstrō]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}