colpire Italian · revision 38297

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=13th century, Monte Andrea|origins=grc κόλαφος}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /kolˈpi.re/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''colpire''' (first-person singular present colpìsco, first-person singular past historic colpìi, past participle colpìto, auxiliary avére)^(Wiktionary)

+ Old Italian forms include ''colpir'' and ''colpìo''.^(TLIO)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is a derivative [[af|it|colpo|-ire]], a verb formed on the noun.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Wiktionary)^(Devoto 1968)^(DELI 1999) The noun [[colpo]] continues [[la-lat|colpus]], recorded in the Lex Salica in the 6th century, from [[la|colaphus|t=blow with the fist]], which is [[grc|κόλαφος|tr=kólaphos|t=slap, blow]].^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010)^(LEI|15, 622)

+

+ The LEI notes that the verb is typical of the Italo-Romance area, with [[fur|colpì|t=to strike (of lightning)]] in Friulian, and that [[fro|colpir]] is an Italianism.^(LEI|15, 622) Catalan borrowed it as [[m|ca|colpir]].^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ DELI dates the verb to the 13th century, in Monte Andrea, with the sense “to strike, hit”.^(DELI 1999)^(GRADIT 2003) The TLIO's first dated record is in Bono Giamboni's Florentine translation of Vegetius, before 1292, where it means to strike an opponent or hit a target.^(TLIO)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Old Italian used the verb for blows with a weapon or the hand, for cutting a precious stone, and figuratively for an attack by misfortune or an emotion.^(TLIO) The figurative sense “to make a deep impression on” is recorded in Torquato Tasso in 1585, and the sense “to harm, damage” in Alessandro Manzoni in 1801.^(DELI 1999)

+

+ In modern Italian the verb is used for shots and missiles, for hitting a ball, for disasters that strike a region and for taxes and laws that bear on someone.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Treccani 2011) Set phrases include ''colpire nel segno'', to hit the mark or guess right, and ''colpire al cuore''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 13th century – Monte Andrea uses ''colpire'' for striking.^(DELI 1999)

+ * Before 1292 – Bono Giamboni uses the verb in his translation of Vegetius.^(TLIO)

+ * 1585 – Torquato Tasso uses it for making a deep impression.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1801 – Alessandro Manzoni uses it for harming.^(DELI 1999)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To [[m|en|hit]] or [[m|en|strike]] someone or something with blows: ''Il ladro lo colpì alla testa con una bottiglia.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)

+ # To hit a target with a shot or a throw, or with a firearm or missile: ''Il cacciatore non è riuscito a colpire l'anatra.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)

+ # To bump or knock against something by accident.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)

+ # ''(sports)'' To strike the ball, with the foot or the head.^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Treccani 2011)

+ # ''(figurative)'' To make a deep impression on, to [[m|en|impress]] or surprise: ''Mi ha colpito la sua gentilezza.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+ # ''(figurative)'' To grasp or hit upon something, such as the truth.^(GRADIT 2003)

+ # ''(figurative)'' To damage or [[m|en|afflict]]: of a disaster, an epidemic or a crisis.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+ # Of a tax or law, to bear on or penalize someone: ''Il nuovo tributo colpisce i piccoli commercianti.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Treccani 2011)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[colpitore]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[colpo]]

+ * [[contraccolpo]]

+ * [[la|colaphus]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ It conjugates with ''-isc-'': ''io colpisco'', ''tu colpisci''.^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}