pensata Italian · revision 38288

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=before 1292, Bono Giamboni|origins=it pensare}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /penˈsa.ta/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''pensata''' ''f'' (plural pensate)^(Wiktionary)

+ Old Italian also wrote [[m|roa-oit|penzata]].^(TLIO)^(GDLI)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is the feminine of [[pensato]], the past participle of [[pensare]], used as a noun.^(Nocentini 2010)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Treccani 2011) GRADIT and Sabatini–Coletti describe it as a derivative of the verb with the suffix [[m|it|-ata]].^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026) Körting compares the formation with [[fr|pensée|t=thought]].^(Körting 1907)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The TLIO's first record is the Tuscan ''Leggenda di Gianni da Procida'' (1282–1299), and DELI's is Bono Giamboni, before 1292, with the sense “idea, scheme”.^(TLIO)^(DELI 1999) In Giamboni a man must avoid the vices that would make him ''cadere di sua pensata'', fall from his plan.^(GDLI)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In Old Italian ''pensata'' was a thought, or a set of thoughts aimed at a goal: a plan or purpose.^(TLIO)^(GDLI) From the plan it came to mean a clever idea or expedient, as in Pulci's ''se fussi riuscito la pensata'' (“if the idea had worked”).^(GDLI)^(Tommaseo–Bellini 1861)

+

+ The modern word is familiar and often ironic: ''bella pensata!'' is said of a foolish idea as much as of a good one.^(GDLI)^(Gabrielli 2020)^(Devoto–Oli 2026) The old phrase ''fuori di ogni pensata'' “unexpectedly” and the Tuscan proverb ''savie all'impensata, e pazze alla pensata'' are now obsolete.^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Tommaseo–Bellini 1861)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1282–1299 – ''Pensata'' appears in the Tuscan ''Leggenda di Gianni da Procida''.^(TLIO)

+ * Before 1292 – Bono Giamboni uses ''pensata'' for a plan or purpose.^(DELI 1999)^(GDLI)

+ * 15th century – Luigi Pulci uses it for a clever idea.^(GDLI)^(Tommaseo–Bellini 1861)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A clever [[m|en|idea]], an unexpected and effective [[m|en|expedient]]: ''Andare in treno è stata una buona pensata.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+ # ''(ironic)'' A foolish or naive idea: ''Ecco un'altra delle sue pensate!''^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Gabrielli 2020)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[pensare]]

+ * [[pensiero]]

+ * [[fr|pensée]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}