contare Italian · revision 38283

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=second half of the 12th century|origins=la putō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /konˈta.re/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''contare''' (first-person singular present cónto, first-person singular past historic contài, past participle contàto, auxiliary avére)^(Wiktionary)

+ Old Italian and dialect forms include [[roa-oit|chontare]], [[roa-oit|cuntari]] in Sicily, and the northern [[roa-oit|cointare]], which the LEI explains by crossing with [[la|cognitus]] or by metathesis.^(TLIO)^(LEI|16, 761)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|la|computō|t=to reckon, count]], with the loss of the unstressed middle vowel.^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010)^(Devoto 1968)^(Wiktionary) The Latin verb is formed from [[m|la|putō|t=to reckon, think; to prune]] with [[m|la|con-]].^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010)^(GRADIT 2003) The learned [[computare]] and [[compitare]] “to spell out” are doublets.^(Wiktionary)^(Nocentini 2010)

+

+ The verb lives on in all the Romance languages except Romanian: [[fr|compter]] and [[fr|conter]], [[oc|comtar]], [[ca|contar]], [[es|contar]], [[pt|contar]], and [[dlm|computà]].^(Nocentini 2010)^(REW 1935)^(LEI|16, 761) The sense “to tell, narrate” grew early from “to enumerate, give an account”; only French keeps the two meanings apart in spelling.^(Nocentini 2010) DEI compares [[de|zählen|t=to count]] beside [[m|de|erzählen|t=to tell]].^(DEI|1073)

+

+ The intransitive use “to rely on”, with the preposition su, is a calque of the French construction with sur.^(DEI|1074)^(Treccani 2011) Some technical compounds are calques of French as well: [[contagocce]] follows [[fr|compte-gouttes]] and [[contagiri]] [[m|fr|compte-tours]], and [[contatore]] “meter” probably [[m|fr|compteur]].^(DELI 1999)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ GRADIT dates the first record to the second half of the 12th century; the TLIO's first is the Venetian ''Proverbia que dicuntur'', which the LEI dates to the last quarter of that century.^(GRADIT 2003)^(TLIO)^(LEI|16, 761) DELI's first record is the ''Elegia giudeo-italiana'' (12th–13th century): ''Chi poe contare l'altri tormenti'' (“who could count the other torments”).^(DELI 1999)^(GDLI)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Old Italian used ''contare'' for counting and calculating, for including in a reckoning (Chiaro Davanzati, 13th century), for paying out money, and for telling and narrating (Giacomo da Lentini, before 1250).^(DELI 1999)^(TLIO) The Florentine banking phrase ''denari contanti'' “ready money” probably spread from Florence, and French ''deniers comptants'' is recorded from 1265.^(LEI|16, 761) ''Contante'' “cash” is in Dino Compagni (1310–1312).^(DELI 1999)

+

+ The intransitive senses are modern: “to be worth something, to matter” in 1750, and “to rely on, intend” in a Milanese text of 1804.^(DELI 1999) The sense “to tell” survives in familiar speech, as in ''contarla'' and ''contarle grosse'' “to tell tall stories”.^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * Second half of the 12th century – ''Contare'' is first recorded.^(GRADIT 2003)

+ * Before 1250 – Giacomo da Lentini uses it for telling, narrating.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 13th century – Chiaro Davanzati uses it for including in a reckoning.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1310–1312 – Dino Compagni uses ''contante''.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1750 – Intransitive ''contare'' “to matter” is recorded.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1804 – ''Contare'' “to rely on, intend” is recorded in a Milanese text.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1892 – ''Contagocce'' is recorded.^(DELI 1999)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Verb===

+ # ''(transitive)'' To [[m|en|count]], number one by one to find how many there are: ''Ho contato le sedie: ne mancano tre.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+ # ''(intransitive)'' To say the numbers in order; to do simple sums: ''Sa contare fino a cento.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)

+ # ''(transitive)'' To dole out sparingly: ''Gli contano persino le caramelle.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+ # ''(transitive)'' To [[m|en|include]], take into account: ''Saremo dodici, senza contare i bambini.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+ # ''(transitive)'' To have, number: ''Il paese conta duemila abitanti.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+ # ''(transitive, boxing)'' To count out a fallen boxer.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Treccani 2011)

+ # ''(transitive)'' To intend, expect: ''Conto di partire lunedì.''^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Treccani 2011)

+ # ''(transitive, familiar)'' To tell, [[m|en|relate]]: ''contare storie''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+ # ''(intransitive)'' To matter, be important or influential: ''Suo zio è una persona che conta in città.''^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(intransitive)'' ''contare su'': to rely on: ''Contiamo sul vostro aiuto.''^(Treccani 2011)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[conto]]

+ * [[conta]]

+ * [[contante]]

+ * [[contata]]

+ * [[contatore]]

+ * [[conteggiare]]

+ * [[conteggio]]

+ * [[raccontare]]

+ * [[scontare]]

+ * [[contagocce]]

+ * [[contachilometri]]

+ * [[contagiri]]

+ * [[contasecondi]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[contarsela]]

+ * [[contarsi]]

+ * [[computare]]

+ * [[compitare]]

+ * [[contabile]]

+ * [[contabilità]]

+ * [[la|computō]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ ''Contabile'' and ''contabilità'' are not Italian formations but [[fr|comptable]] and [[m|fr|comptabilité]].^(DELI 1999) Set phrases include ''si contano sulle dita'' “they can be counted on the fingers”, ''contare i giorni'' “to wait impatiently”, and ''contare le pecore'' to fall asleep.^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Gabrielli 2020)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}