interesse Italian · revision 38227

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1301, letter from Lucca|origins=la intersum}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /in.teˈrɛs.se/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''interesse''' ''m'' (plural interessi)^(Wiktionary)

+ Old forms include [[roa-oit|interesso]], [[roa-oit|enteresse]], [[roa-oit|’nteresse]] and [[roa-oit|intheressu]].^(TLIO) The form in ⟨-o⟩ was in use from the 14th to the 17th century.^(DEI|2063) Battaglia labels it old and popular Tuscan.^(GDLI|8, 230)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is a learned word, [[bor|la-med|intersum|alt=interesse]], the infinitive of a Latin verb meaning “to be between; to take part; to matter”, used as a noun.^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010)^(GRADIT 2003) The verb is a compound of [[m|la|inter-|t=between]] and [[m|la|sum|t=to be]].^(DELI 1999)^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026) According to Nocentini, the Medieval Latin noun was a legal term for “benefit, advantage”, taken from the impersonal [[m|la|interest|t=it matters, it concerns]], literally “it lies in between”.^(Nocentini 2010) DEI and Battaglia place its use as a noun in the 13th century.^(DEI|2063)^(GDLI|8, 230)

+

+ The impersonal form is the source of [[fr|intérêt]], recorded in 1290, while [[es|interés]] corresponds to the Italian word.^(Nocentini 2010)^(DEI|2063) The verb [[interessare]] was formed from the noun, and [[interessante]] owes its modern sense to [[m|fr|intéressant]] (1718), which is why the purist Cesari opposed it.^(DELI 1999) Panzini granted that these words had long been taken from French but held that they were too well established to be condemned.^(DELI 1999)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The TLIO's first record is a letter written at Lucca in 1301, and the Old Italian texts use the word for the sum paid for the loan of money.^(TLIO) DELI dates the form ''interesso'' to the 14th century (''Corona de' monaci'') and ''interesse'' to Matteo Villani, before 1363, in the same financial sense.^(DELI 1999)^(GRADIT 2003)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In Old Italian the word belonged to trade and law: besides the interest on a loan it meant compensation for a loss, in the pair ''danno e interesse'' “damage and interest”, and ''a interesse di'' meant “for the benefit of”.^(TLIO) Tommaseo's examples set it apart from usury, which was unlawful while interest was lawful.^(Tommaseo–Bellini 1861)

+

+ The general sense “advantage, profit” appears in Luigi Pulci (before 1484) and Guicciardini (before 1540), “convenience” in Annibal Caro (1561), and the plural for a person's affairs and property before 1609.^(DELI 1999) The sense “keen concern, attention” is recorded in Lionardo Salviati in 1566, but the purists of the early 19th century did not accept it.^(DELI 1999) “Greed for gain” is recorded in Tommaseo's dictionary (1869).^(DELI 1999)

+

+ The modern dictionaries divide the word between finance (''tasso d'interesse'' “interest rate”, ''interesse composto'' “compound interest”), personal advantage (''matrimonio d'interesse'' “marriage of convenience”) and curiosity or attention.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Treccani 2011)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1301 – A letter from Lucca is the first record.^(TLIO)

+ * 14th century – The form ''interesso'' appears in the ''Corona de' monaci''.^(DELI 1999)

+ * Before 1363 – Matteo Villani uses ''interesse'' for interest on money.^(DELI 1999)^(GRADIT 2003)

+ * Before 1484 – Luigi Pulci has the sense “personal advantage”.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1566 – Lionardo Salviati uses it for keen concern or attention.^(DELI 1999)

+ * Before 1609 – The plural is used for a person's affairs.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1756 – ''Interessante'' “arousing interest” is recorded.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1869 – Tommaseo's dictionary records the sense “greed for gain”.^(DELI 1999)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # ''(finance)'' [[m|en|interest]]: the sum a debtor pays for money lent, usually a yearly percentage of the loan: ''La banca chiede un interesse del cinque per cento.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+ # ''(in the plural)'' A person's or a body's affairs and property, and the running of them: ''Un avvocato cura gli interessi della famiglia.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+ # Personal gain, [[m|en|self-interest]], the wish for profit: ''Lo ha fatto solo per interesse.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Gabrielli 2020)

+ # [[m|en|advantage|alt=Advantage]] or benefit, not only material: ''Te lo dico nel tuo interesse.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Treccani 2011)

+ # [[m|en|attention|alt=Attention]], [[m|en|curiosity]], a lively involvement in something or someone: ''Ho seguito la conferenza con grande interesse.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Gabrielli 2020)

+ # The quality of arousing attention, importance: ''una mostra di notevole interesse storico''.^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Gabrielli 2020)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[interessare]]

+ * [[interessante]]

+ * [[interessamento]]

+ * [[interessato]]

+ * [[interessenza]]

+ * [[disinteresse]]

+ * [[disinteressato]]

+ * [[cointeressenza]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[essere]]

+ * [[fr|intérêt]]

+ * [[la|intersum]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ ''Conflitto di interessi'' is a conflict of interest.^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010) ''Interesse'' is masculine, with the plural ''interessi''.^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}