sveglio Italian · revision 38727

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=1836, Raffaello Lambruschini|origins=la vigilō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /ˈzveʎ.ʎo/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''sveglio''' (feminine sveglia, masculine plural svegli, feminine plural sveglie)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is the short past participle of [[svegliare|t=to wake]], formed without the participle ending, beside the regular participle [[svegliato]].^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Treccani 2011)^(Wiktionary) Devoto described it as extracted from the full participle.^(Devoto 1968) The verb continues [[la-vul|*exvigilō|alt=*exvigilāre]], a variant of classical [[m|la|ēvigilō|t=to wake up]], formed with [[m|la|ex-]] on [[m|la|vigilō|t=to keep watch]].^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010)^(GRADIT 2003) DELI and GRADIT set [[fro|esveillier]] beside it, and Wiktionary takes the verb probably through [[pro|esvelhar]].^(DELI 1999)^(GRADIT 2003)^(Wiktionary)

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+ Wiktionary describes it as a Tuscan short participle.^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ DELI's first record is from 1836, in Raffaello Lambruschini, with the figurative sense “alert, quick, shrewd”.^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010) Manzoni used it in the final edition of ''I promessi sposi'' (1840–1842), where the earlier edition had ''svegliato'': ''Quel ragazzotto che, a dire il vero, mostrava d'esser molto sveglio, mostrava però d'essere anche più malizioso'' (“That lad, who to tell the truth seemed very sharp, seemed even more mischievous”).^(DELI 1999)^(GDLI) The literal sense “awake, not asleep” is recorded later, in Manuzzi's dictionary of 1865.^(DELI 1999)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Tommaseo treated ''sveglio'' as a shortened ''svegliato'' and recorded both the literal sense, as in a question asking whether someone is awake, and the figurative one, used of a person or a mind.^(Tommaseo–Bellini 1861) In the 20th century Carducci, Saba, Moravia and Bassani all use it for “awake”.^(GDLI)

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+ The figurative sense moved from quick understanding towards cunning: modern dictionaries give, besides “awake” and “quick-witted”, a colloquial sense “shrewd, wily, too clever”.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010) GRADIT marks the use as a plain participle of ''svegliare'' obsolete, while the adjective is in common use.^(GRADIT 2003)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1836 – Raffaello Lambruschini uses ''sveglio'' for “alert, quick-witted”.^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010)

+ * 1840–1842 – Manzoni puts ''sveglio'' in place of ''svegliato'' in the final edition of ''I promessi sposi''.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1865 – Manuzzi's dictionary records the sense “awake”.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1873 – The noun ''sveglia'' “alarm clock”, from the same verb, is recorded by Tommaseo–Bellini.^(DELI 1999)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # [[m|en|awake]], not asleep: ''Il bambino è rimasto sveglio tutta la notte per il temporale.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(figurative)'' [[m|en|quick-witted]], [[m|en|alert]], quick to learn and act: ''Quella bambina è molto sveglia per la sua età.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(figurative, colloquial)'' Shrewd, [[m|en|cunning]], worldly-wise: ''Con quel venditore bisogna stare attenti, è parecchio sveglio.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[svegliare]]

+ * [[svegliato]]

+ * [[sveglia]]

+ * [[risvegliare]]

+ * [[vegliare]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ The feminine ''sveglia'' has the same form as the noun [[sveglia]] “wake-up call; alarm clock”, formed from ''svegliare'' without a suffix.^(DELI 1999) GDLI also records an old noun ''sveglio'' “awakening; wake-up signal”, and in the courtly love poetry of the 13th century a song sung at dawn in front of the beloved's house.^(GDLI|20, 601)

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+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}