assistente Italian · revision 38750

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=1304, Giordano da Pisa|origins=la sistō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /as.sisˈtɛn.te/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''assistente''' ''m or f'' by sense (plural assistenti)^(Wiktionary)

+ Dialect forms include Genoese ''ascistente'', Neapolitan ''assistiente'' (1748) and Sicilian ''assistenti''.^(LEI|3, 1876)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is the present participle of [[assistere|t=to be present; to help]], used as an adjective and a noun: [[af|it|assistere|-ente]].^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(GRADIT 2003) The verb is a learned borrowing of [[la|assistō|alt=adsistō|t=to stand by, be present]], a compound of [[m|la|ad|t=at, near]] and [[m|la|sistō|t=to stand]].^(DELI 1999)^(GRADIT 2003)^(LEI|3, 1876) The LEI calls the noun “one who collaborates” a humanist formation, and compares [[fr|assistant]] (from 1604), [[ca|asistent]], [[es|asistente]] and [[pt|assistente]] (1449).^(LEI|3, 1876)

+

+ Some modern uses are calques: “assistente” “deputy manager” follows [[en|assistant]], and “assistente di volo” translates [[m|en|flight attendant]].^(LEI|3, 1876)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ DELI's first record is in the sermons of Giordano da Pisa (1304), for “one who assists”; the LEI dates the same text c. 1306.^(DELI 1999)^(LEI|3, 1876) Giordano divides the angels into two parts, ''assistenti e ministranti'', those who stand before God and those who serve.^(GDLI|1, 770) The TLIO's first record is Domenico Cavalca (before 1342), in the sense “helper”.^(TLIO)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Boccaccio (c. 1340) uses the plural ''assistenti'' for the people present at an event.^(LEI|3, 1876) From the end of the 15th century the word named the deacon or priest who assists the celebrant at solemn services, and, from 1673 (Daniello Bartoli) the counsellor of the superior general of a religious order;^(LEI|3, 1876)^(Tommaseo–Bellini 1861) Segneri (1690) has it for “protector”.^(LEI|3, 1876)^(Tommaseo–Bellini 1861)

+

+ The university ''assistente'', a graduate who helps a professor in teaching and research, is recorded in Tommaseo's dictionary in 1865; the post was abolished in 1980.^(DELI 1999)^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Devoto–Oli 2026) Pavese (1949) uses the word for a supervisor of boys in a boarding school.^(LEI|3, 1876) Later combinations include ''assistente sociale'' “social worker”, ''assistente di volo'' “flight attendant”, the ''assistente arbitrale'' who helps the referee from the touchline, and the rank of ''assistente'' in the Italian state police.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)^(GDLI|1, 770) In computing the word names a program that guides the user, a wizard, and a voice-controlled digital assistant.^(Wiktionary)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Treccani 2011)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1304 – Giordano da Pisa uses ''assistente''.^(DELI 1999)

+ * Before 1342 – Domenico Cavalca has it for “helper”.^(TLIO)

+ * c. 1340 – Boccaccio uses ''assistenti'' for the people present.^(LEI|3, 1876)

+ * End of the 15th century – It names the cleric who assists the celebrant.^(LEI|3, 1876)

+ * 1673 – Daniello Bartoli uses it for a counsellor of the head of a religious order.^(LEI|3, 1876)

+ * 1865 – Tommaseo's dictionary records the university assistant.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1942 – ''Assistentato'' “the office of an assistant” is recorded.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1980 – The post of university assistant is abolished.^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # An [[m|en|assistant]]: someone who helps the person in charge of an activity in their work: ''Il fotografo lavora con due assistenti.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+ # In public offices, a clerk; in the police, a rank just above that of ordinary officer.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Treccani 2011)

+ # ''(education)'' In the former Italian university system, a lecturer assisting the holder of a chair; in secondary schools, a laboratory assistant.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+ # In hospitals, a doctor ranking below the head physician and his deputy.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Treccani 2011)

+ # ''(Church)'' A cleric who assists at solemn services; in religious orders, a counsellor of the superior general.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Treccani 2011)

+ # Someone who does social or welfare work: ''assistente sociale'', a [[m|en|social worker]].^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Treccani 2011)

+ # ''(computing)'' A program that guides the user through a task, a [[m|en|wizard]]; a digital voice assistant.^(Wiktionary)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Treccani 2011)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[assistentato]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[assistere]]

+ * [[assistenza]]

+ * [[assistito]]

+ * [[la|assistō]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ ''Assistente'' is masculine or feminine according to the person: ''un assistente'', ''un'assistente''.^(Wiktionary)^(Devoto–Oli 2026) In the language of notaries it also means a witness.^(GRADIT 2003)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}