prezzo Italian · revision 38286

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=1262|origins=la pretium}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /ˈprɛt.t͡so/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''prezzo''' ''m'' (plural prezzi)^(Wiktionary)

+ Old and dialect forms include [[roa-oit|prezio]], [[roa-oit|prezo]], [[roa-oit|presso]] and [[roa-oit|prezzu]].^(GDLI)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|la|pretium|t=price, value]].^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010)^(GRADIT 2003)^(Wiktionary) The Latin /tj/ became the voiceless affricate /ts/, the regular Tuscan outcome.^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026) The same Latin word gave the doublet [[pregio]], which Körting distinguishes as the intrinsic or ideal worth of a thing, as against its value in money.^(Wiktionary)^(Körting 1907)

+

+ The word is found in nearly all the Romance languages: [[fr|prix]], [[oc|pretz]], [[ca|preu]], [[es|precio]], [[pt|preço]] and [[ro|preț]].^(Nocentini 2010)^(REW 1935) DEI regards the Spanish and Portuguese forms as semi-learned.^(DEI|3077) The DÉRom reconstructs a neuter Proto-Romance [[m|la-vul|*pretium|alt=*/ˈprεti-u/]], since the Romanian word is neuter like the Latin.^(DÉRom)

+

+ The origin of the Latin noun is uncertain.^(DELI 1999)^(DEI|3077) De Vaan and Wiktionary derive it from a preposition [[ine-pro|*préti|t=against]], the source of [[sa|प्रति|tr=práti]] and [[grc|προτί|tr=protí]], and de Vaan sees no viable alternative.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Wiktionary) Others connect it with [[la|interpres|t=intermediary]] and [[grc|πέρνημι|tr=pérnēmi|t=to sell]], with an original sense of trade.^(Nocentini 2010)^(Devoto 1968)^(DEI|3077)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Nocentini, GRADIT and Zingarelli date the first record to 1262;^(Nocentini 2010)^(GRADIT 2003)^(Zingarelli 2010)^(DELI 1999) DELI's first dated sense, the value of goods in exchange, the money needed to buy something, is in the ''Novellino'' at the end of the 13th century.^(Nocentini 2010)^(GRADIT 2003)^(Zingarelli 2010)^(DELI 1999)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ From the money paid for a thing the word passed to reward or gain in the 14th century, and to worth or esteem, the sense of ''pregio'', in Boccaccio before 1375.^(DELI 1999)^(DEI|3077) Manzoni uses it in 1822 for whatever one gives in exchange for something, the source of figurative uses such as ''a caro prezzo'' “dearly” and ''a qualunque prezzo'' “at any cost”.^(DELI 1999)^(Zingarelli 2010) The price tag on goods is called ''prezzo'' from 1965.^(DELI 1999)

+

+ The derived verb ''prezzolare'' “to hire for pay, especially for wicked ends” is recorded in the 14th century, and ''prezzolato'' “hired, mercenary” in Boccaccio in 1353.^(DELI 1999) The economics of the 20th century added ''prezzo politico'' and ''prezzo corporativo'', prices set by the state.^(DEI|3077)^(Gabrielli 2020)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1262 – ''Prezzo'' is first recorded.^(Nocentini 2010)^(GRADIT 2003)

+ * End of the 13th century – The ''Novellino'' uses it for the value of goods in money.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1353 – Boccaccio uses ''prezzolato'' “hired”.^(DELI 1999)

+ * Before 1375 – Boccaccio uses ''prezzo'' for worth, esteem.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1822 – Manzoni uses it for what is given in exchange for something.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1958 – ''Prezzare'' “to price” and ''prezzario'' are recorded.^(Nocentini 2010)

+ * 1965 – ''Prezzo'' is recorded for a price tag.^(DELI 1999)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # [[m|en|price]], the sum of money needed to buy a good or obtain a service: ''Il prezzo della benzina è salito di nuovo.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+ # The written price; a [[m|en|price tag]]: ''Togli il prezzo prima di incartare il regalo.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+ # ''(figurative)'' What one must give up or suffer to achieve something; the cost: ''il prezzo della fama''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+ # ''(literary)'' Worth, [[m|en|esteem]], value.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[prezzare]]

+ * [[prezzario]]

+ * [[prezzolare]]

+ * [[prezzolato]]

+ * [[apprezzare]]

+ * [[deprezzare]]

+ * [[disprezzare]]

+ * [[disprezzo]]

+ * [[sprezzare]]

+ * [[sprezzante]]

+ * [[sovrapprezzo]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[prezzatura]]

+ * [[pregio]]

+ * [[prezioso]]

+ * [[la|pretium]]

+ * [[fr|prix]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Fixed phrases include ''a caro prezzo'' “dearly”, ''a prezzo di'' “at the cost of”, and ''non avere prezzo'' “to be priceless”.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Gabrielli 2020)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}