giudice Italian · revision 38369

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=before 1294, Brunetto Latini|origins=la iūs, la dīcō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /ˈd͡ʒu.di.t͡ʃe/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''giudice''' ''m or f'' by sense (plural giudici)^(Wiktionary)

+ An older and literary form is ''iudice'';^(Treccani 2011)^(GDLI)^(Wiktionary) Old and dialect forms include ''giodice''.^(Treccani 2011)^(GDLI)^(Wiktionary) Northern Italian has [[vec|zudese]] and Lombard ''giüdes''.^(Körting 1907)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|la|iūdex|t=judge]], from the accusative [[m|la|iūdicem]].^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010)^(GRADIT 2003)^(Wiktionary) GDLI calls it a semi-learned word.^(GDLI) The word is pan-Romance: [[fr|juge]] (the source of the English [[m|en|judge]]), [[oc|jutge]], [[ca|jutge]], [[es|juez]], [[pt|juiz]], [[ro|jude]] and [[sc|zùighe]].^(Nocentini 2010)^(REW 1935)^(Wiktionary) Meyer-Lübke explains the French form by the influence of the verb [[m|fr|juger]].^(REW 1935)^(Körting 1907)

+

+ The Latin noun is a compound of [[la|iūs|t=law, right]] and the root of [[m|la|dīcō|t=to say, show]], “the one who declares the law”.^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010)^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto 1968) Isidore of Seville already explained judges as those who “say the law” to the people.^(GDLI) De Vaan reconstructs [[itc-pro|*jowes-dik-]] and notes that the ending ⟨-ex⟩ in place of ⟨-ix⟩ is analogical.^(de Vaan 2008) Devoto points out that it stands to [[giudicare]] and [[giudizio]] as [[indice]] stands to [[indicare]] and [[indizio]].^(Devoto 1968)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ DELI's first record is in Brunetto Latini, before 1294, for a public official who judges in a court.^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010)^(GRADIT 2003) Latini's ''Rettorica'' speaks of ''la persona de' giudici'', “the person of the judges”, that is, of those before whom one speaks.^(GDLI)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Guittone d'Arezzo already attacks corrupt judges (''Oh non giudici già, ma gioculare!'', “Oh, not judges but jesters!”), and Dino Compagni blames ''i maladetti giudici'' for twisting the laws.^(GDLI) The wider sense, someone who judges people or things by their own choice or by appointment, is in Dante's ''Convivio'' of 1304–1308.^(DELI 1999) The plural for the leaders of Israel between Joshua and Samuel is in Cavalca before 1342.^(DELI 1999)

+

+ In medieval Sardinia ''giudice'' was the title of the ruler of each ''giudicato'', with Latin ''iudices Sardiniae'' recorded from 864.^(DEI|1819)^(GRADIT 2003)^(REW 1935) Modern compounds include the ''giudice popolare'', a citizen drawn by lot to sit in the Corte d'Assise (1950), the ''giudice di pace'' and, in sport, the ''giudice di gara'' and ''giudice di linea''.^(DELI 1999)^(GRADIT 2003)^(Treccani 2011)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * Before 1294 – Brunetto Latini uses ''giudice'' for a judge in a court.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1304–1308 – Dante uses it for anyone who judges.^(DELI 1999)

+ * Before 1342 – Domenico Cavalca uses the plural for the Judges of Israel.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 14th century – DEI records the title of the rulers of medieval Sardinia.^(DEI|1819)

+ * 1893 – The Crusca dictionary records ''giudici del fatto'' for lay judges.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1950 – ''Giudice popolare'' is recorded.^(DELI 1999)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A [[m|en|judge]], a [[m|en|magistrate]]: a public official who administers justice: ''Il giudice ha rinviato l'udienza.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Treccani 2011)

+ # ''(law)'' The court or judicial authority competent in a case: ''giudice di primo grado''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+ # Anyone who judges people or things, or who has the authority to give a verdict: ''Sei un pessimo giudice di cavalli.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+ # ''(figurative)'' What shows the true worth of something: ''Il pubblico sarà l'unico giudice.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+ # ''(sports)'' A judge or [[m|en|umpire]] who checks that a competition follows the rules.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(history)'' Each of the Judges who led Israel between Joshua and Samuel.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(DELI 1999)

+ # ''(history)'' The ruler of a ''giudicato'' in medieval Sardinia.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Wiktionary)^(DEI|1819)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[giudicessa]]

+ * [[giudicale]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[giudicare]]

+ * [[giudicato]]

+ * [[giudizio]]

+ * [[giudiziario]]

+ * [[giure]]

+ * [[dire]]

+ * [[la|iudex]]

+ * [[fr|juge]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ The noun is used for both men and women (''il giudice'', ''la giudice''); the feminine ''giudicessa'' is uncommon or jocular.^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}