nervoso Italian · revision 38210

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=before 1320|origins=la nervus}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /nerˈvo.zo/, /nerˈvo.so/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''nervoso''' (feminine nervosa, masculine plural nervosi, feminine plural nervose, superlative nervosissimo)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|la|nervōsus|t=sinewy, muscular, vigorous]], from [[m|la|nervus|t=sinew, nerve]] with the suffix [[m|la|-ōsus]].^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010)^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Wiktionary) DEI compares [[fr|nerveux]], used from the 13th century in the old sense “strong”.^(DEI|2574) Pliny already used the Latin word in botany, for plants that are fibrous, like [[grc|νευρώδης|tr=neurṓdēs|t=sinewy]].^(DEI|2574)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ GRADIT dates the word before 1320.^(GRADIT 2003) DELI's first record is in the Italian translation of Pietro de' Crescenzi, about 1350, with the sense “of the nerves”.^(DELI 1999) DEI gives the old sense “strong, vigorous” in the 14th century, and Tommaseo quotes a medieval medical text that calls the substance of the stomach ''bene nervosa'', well furnished with sinews.^(DEI|2574)^(Tommaseo–Bellini 1861)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Redi used the word in the 17th century for the nerve fibres, and the anatomical sense became the main learned one.^(DEI|2574)^(GDLI) The botanical sense, of leaves with strong veins, is recorded in 1828.^(DEI|2574) Alamanni asked for horses with sinewy legs (''Sian nervose le gambe''), a sense still used of a lean, agile body.^(Tommaseo–Bellini 1861)^(GRADIT 2003)

+

+ The sense “easily irritated, highly strung” came in the 19th century: Tommaseo has it in 1869, and Mazzini before 1872.^(DELI 1999)^(DEI|2574) Carducci used ''il nervoso'' as a noun for irritation in 1878, and ''mi viene il nervoso'' is now colloquial.^(DELI 1999)^(GRADIT 2003) Critics apply the word to a terse, vigorous style, and the stock exchange to an unsettled market.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * Before 1320 – GRADIT's first date.^(GRADIT 2003)

+ * About 1350 – The translation of Crescenzi uses it for the nerves.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 17th century – Redi writes of nerve fibres.^(DEI|2574)

+ * 1828 – The botanical sense is recorded.^(DEI|2574)

+ * 1869 – Tommaseo records the sense “irritable”.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1878 – Carducci uses ''il nervoso'' as a noun.^(DELI 1999)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # ''(anatomy)'' Of the [[m|en|nerve|alt=nerves]]: ''il sistema nervoso''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026) In medicine, of disorders of the nervous system: ''esaurimento nervoso''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+ # [[m|en|irritable]], easily annoyed; restless; also tense, anxious: ''Prima dell'esame era molto nervoso.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+ # Showing tension: ''un sorriso nervoso''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)

+ # Quick and energetic: ''una guida nervosa''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)

+ # Of the body, lean and [[m|en|sinewy]]: ''gambe nervose''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+ # ''(figurative)'' Of style, terse and incisive.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+ # Of a market, unsettled, changing.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)

+ # ''(botany)'' Of leaves or wood, with many prominent veins; of meat, full of gristle.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Treccani 2011)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # ''(colloquial)'' Irritation, a bad mood: ''Oggi ho il nervoso.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Gabrielli 2020)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[nervosismo]]

+ * [[nervosità]]

+ * [[innervosire]]

+ * [[nervosamente]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[nervo]]

+ * [[nerbo]]

+ * [[la|nervosus]]

+ * [[fr|nerveux]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}