governo Italian · revision 38422

+ {{infobox|confidence=probable|formation=inherited|attested=13th century, Bonvesin de la Riva|origins=grc κυβερνάω}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /ɡoˈvɛr.no/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''governo''' ''m'' (plural governi)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|la|gubernum|t=steering oar, rudder]], from [[m|la|gubernō|t=to steer; to govern]].^(GRADIT 2003)^(Nocentini 2010)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(OLD 2012)^(TLIO) The Latin verb was borrowed from [[grc|κυβερνάω|tr=kubernáō|t=to steer]], a word of obscure origin that is also behind [[cibernetica]].^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010)^(Wiktionary) In Latin both words had already widened their senses from the ship to direction in general.^(DELI 1999)

+

+ Several sources see the Italian noun as partly a back-formation from [[governare]]: Devoto speaks of a crossing with the verb, Treccani derives some senses from it, and DEI thinks that the senses “rudder” and “manure” are most likely deverbal.^(Devoto 1968)^(Treccani 2011)^(DEI|1850) Wiktionary leaves both explanations open.^(Wiktionary) The Latin noun survives as [[fro|gouver|t=rudder]] and [[pro|govern]].^(REW 1935)^(DEI|1850) The verb has spread widely: [[fr|gouverner]], the source of [[en|govern]], [[es|gobernar]] and [[pt|governar]].^(Nocentini 2010)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The TLIO's first record is in the Milanese poems of Bonvesin de la Riva, of the 13th century; its first sense is the rudder of a boat, also used figuratively.^(TLIO) DELI's earliest sense is direction or command, in the ''Fatti di Cesare'' of the 13th century.^(DELI 1999)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Dante still used ''governo'' for the rudder: in the ''Vita nuova'' he calls himself a vessel “without sail and without rudder” (''legno sanza vela e sanza governo''), and in ''Inferno'' 8 a little boat comes ''sotto il governo d'un sol galeoto'', “steered by a single oarsman”.^(GDLI|6, 997)^(Tommaseo–Bellini 1861) The act of governing is in the Italian Livy and the care of people and things in the Italian Bible, both of the 14th century.^(DELI 1999)

+

+ The political senses grew from the 15th century: the organ that directs the state in Lorenzo Morelli and the form of rule in Francesco Guicciardini, before 1540.^(DELI 1999) From the 16th century the word also meant the feeding of animals and the manuring of land.^(DEI|1850)^(Treccani 2011) The cry ''piove, governo ladro!'' (“it's raining, thieving government!”) goes back to an 1861 cartoon in ''Il Pasquino'', where three Mazzinians shelter from the rain that spoiled their demonstration in Turin.^(DELI 1999)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 13th century – Bonvesin de la Riva uses ''governo''.^(TLIO)

+ * 13th century – The ''Fatti di Cesare'' use it for direction and command.^(DELI 1999)

+ * Before 1321 – Dante uses it for a ship's rudder.^(GDLI|6, 997)

+ * 15th century – Lorenzo Morelli uses it for the organ that governs a state.^(DELI 1999)

+ * Before 1540 – Francesco Guicciardini uses it for a form of rule.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1861 – A cartoon in ''Il Pasquino'' launches ''governo ladro''.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1965 – ''Governo di coalizione'' is recorded.^(DELI 1999)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # The [[m|en|government]]: the body that holds executive power and directs the policy of a state; in Italy the prime minister and the ministers: ''Il governo ha presentato la legge di bilancio.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+ # The governing of a state, political rule and administration: ''un partito al governo''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Treccani 2011)

+ # The form of rule of a state: ''governo repubblicano'', ''governo monarchico''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+ # The management of a firm, a household or a family.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Gabrielli 2020)

+ # The steering of a ship, and by extension of an aircraft or vehicle: ''perdere il governo della barca''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+ # The care and feeding of animals, especially livestock.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Treccani 2011)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(agriculture)'' The manuring of soil; the manure itself.^(Treccani 2011)

+ # ''(obsolete)'' A [[m|en|rudder]].^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Treccani 2011)^(TLIO)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[sottogoverno]]

+ * [[governicchio]]

+ * [[governissimo]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[governabile]]

+ * [[governare]]

+ * [[governatore]]

+ * [[governatura]]

+ * [[governante]]

+ * [[la|gubernum]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ ''Donna di governo'' was an old name for a housekeeper.^(Devoto–Oli 2026) ''Governo fantoccio'' copies English ''puppet government'', and ''governo ombra'' the ''shadow cabinet''.^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Treccani 2011)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}