faccenda Italian · revision 38715

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=1260, Sienese letter|origins=la faciō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /fatˈt͡ʃɛn.da/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''faccenda''' ''f'' (plural faccende)^(Wiktionary)

+ Old forms include [[roa-oit|faccienda]], [[roa-oit|facenda]], [[roa-oit|fachenda]] and the southern [[roa-oit|facenna]].^(TLIO)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|la|facienda|t=things to be done]], the neuter plural of [[m|la|faciendus]], the gerundive of [[m|la|faciō|t=to do, make]].^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010)^(GRADIT 2003)^(Wiktionary) The neuter plural was taken as a feminine singular, as in [[meraviglia]] and [[pecora]].^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010)^(Devoto–Oli 2026) Devoto starts from [[la-vul|*facjenda]].^(Devoto 1968)

+

+ The double ⟨cc⟩ is explained in two ways: DEI and Prati think the subjunctive [[faccia]] of [[fare]] influenced the word, and Sabatini–Coletti take it as the normal Tuscan outcome of Latin /kj/.^(DEI|1578)^(Prati 1951|414)^(REW 1935)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026) The same Latin word is [[pro|fazenda]], [[es|hacienda]] and [[pt|fazenda]], and the dialects of southern Italy have [[scn|facenna]].^(Nocentini 2010)^(REW 1935)^(DEI|1578)^(Wiktionary) The Spanish word was borrowed into Italian as [[azienda]], a doublet of this one.^(Nocentini 2010)^(DEI|1578)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ De Vaan traces the Latin verb to [[ine-pro|*dʰeh₁-|t=to put]], whose aorist probably had the final /k/ that Italic carried through the whole verb.^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The TLIO's first record is in a Sienese letter of 1260, and DELI dates the word to the sermons of Giordano da Pisa (1303–1306).^(TLIO)^(DELI 1999)^(GRADIT 2003) The first sense is a thing that has to be done, a task or occupation; the TLIO also finds it for a business deal and an entry in an account.^(TLIO)^(DELI 1999)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Old Italian already used ''faccenda'' for an event or circumstance and for a difficult situation.^(TLIO) Boccaccio, describing the plague in Florence, says people cared for none of their things or ''faccende''.^(Tommaseo–Bellini 1861)^(GDLI|5, 547) The plural for the daily work of a household is recorded from the 14th century, in a translation by Vito da Cortona.^(DELI 1999)

+

+ From the 16th century came ''faccendiere'', a busybody and later a wheeler-dealer (1513, Machiavelli), and ''faccendone'', someone who bustles about to little purpose (before 1686).^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010) Tuscan has the jocular ''Ser Faccenda'' for a person who meddles in everything.^(DEI|1578)^(Treccani 2011) French borrowed the word as ''faciende'' in the 16th century, for an occupation and then an intrigue.^(DIFIT)^(DEI|1578) Catalan ''fatxenda'' and Spanish ''fachenda'' were also taken from Italian.^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1260 – A Sienese letter has the first record.^(TLIO)

+ * 1303–1306 – Giordano da Pisa uses ''faccenda'' in his sermons.^(DELI 1999)^(GRADIT 2003)

+ * 14th century – The plural ''faccende'' is used for housework.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1513 – Machiavelli has ''faccendiere''.^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010)

+ * 1552 – French ''faciende'' “occupation” is first recorded.^(DIFIT)

+ * Before 1686 – ''Faccendone'' is recorded.^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # Something to be done, a [[m|en|task]] or [[m|en|errand]]: ''Ho ancora due faccende da sbrigare in banca.'' ''Essere in faccende'': to be busy.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+ # ''(plural)'' The [[m|en|housework]], household chores.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+ # A matter, an [[m|en|affair]], often a troublesome or unpleasant one: ''Questa faccenda non mi convince per niente.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+ # ''(chiefly plural)'' One's private affairs: ''Pensa alle faccende tue.''^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(GRADIT 2003)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[faccendiere]]

+ * [[faccendone]]

+ * [[affaccendarsi]]

+ * [[affaccendare]]

+ * [[sfaccendato]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[azienda]]

+ * [[fare]]

+ * [[es|hacienda]]

+ * [[la|faciō]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}