indagine Italian · revision 38274

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1358, Domenico da Monticchiello|origins=la agō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /inˈda.d͡ʒi.ne/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''indagine''' ''f'' (plural indagini)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is a learned word, [[bor|la|indāgō|t=a ring of hunters or nets; a search]].^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010)^(DEI)^(GRADIT 2003) The Latin noun first meant a hunt in which the game was surrounded and driven into nets, and then a search or investigation.^(Nocentini 2010)^(GRADIT 2003)^(Treccani 2011) It is formed from [[m|la|indu-]], an old form of [[m|la|in-|t=in]], and the root of [[m|la|agō|t=to drive]] with a lengthened vowel, as in [[m|la|ambāgēs|t=windings]].^(Nocentini 2010)^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary) The same prefix is in the words that gave [[indigeno]], [[indigente]], [[indole]] and [[industria]].^(Nocentini 2010)

+

+ Sabatini–Coletti, Zingarelli and Gabrielli derive the Latin noun from the verb that gave [[indagare]], but the OLD makes the verb a derivative of the noun.^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Gabrielli 2020)^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The TLIO has one early example, in the ''Rime'' of the Sienese Domenico da Monticchiello (1358), with the sense “an order to do something”.^(TLIO) DELI's first record is in Galileo (1630–1631), for a study or analysis.^(DELI 1999)^(GRADIT 2003) Zingarelli dates the word to 1480.^(Zingarelli 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Galileo's ''Dialogo'' discusses an author's ''dodici indagini'' (“twelve inquiries”) into the new star of 1572.^(Tommaseo–Bellini 1861)^(GDLI) DELI dates the sense “careful, systematic research” to Metastasio in 1770, and “investigation” to Carducci in 1861.^(DELI 1999) The ''indagine conoscitiva'', an inquiry held by a parliamentary committee to gather information, is recorded in 1973.^(DELI 1999)

+

+ In modern law the plural ''indagini'' is the investigation by the police and the judiciary, and the ''indagini preliminari'' are those that decide whether a prosecution is brought.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Treccani 2011) The word is also used for market research and statistical surveys.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Treccani 2011)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1358 – Domenico da Monticchiello uses the word for an order.^(TLIO)

+ * 1630–1631 – Galileo uses it for a study or analysis.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1770 – Metastasio uses it for careful research.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1861 – Carducci uses it for an investigation.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1973 – ''Indagine conoscitiva'' is recorded.^(DELI 1999)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # Systematic [[m|en|research]] or study to discover something: ''un'indagine sulle abitudini alimentari dei giovani''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+ # ''(often plural)'' An [[m|en|investigation]] by the police or the judiciary: ''La procura ha aperto un'indagine sull'incendio.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Treccani 2011)

+ # A [[m|en|survey]] or poll: ''indagine di mercato''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Treccani 2011)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(economics)'' A survey of businesses on their present situation and short-term prospects.^(Devoto–Oli 2026)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[indaginoso]]

+ * [[preindagine]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[indagare]]

+ * [[la|indāgō]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ ''Giudice per le indagini preliminari'', abbreviated GIP, is the judge who oversees the preliminary investigation.^(Treccani 2011)^(GRADIT 2003)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}