legato Italian · revision 38782

+ Italian has three words spelled ''legato'': the past participle of ''legare'' “to tie”, used as an adjective and as a musical term; the noun “legate”, from Latin ''lēgātus''; and the legal noun “bequest”, from Latin ''lēgātum''.^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010)^(GRADIT 2003) DELI numbers them in this order;^(DELI 1999) GRADIT lists the legate and the bequest as 1 and 2 and the participle under the verbs,^(GRADIT 2003) and Nocentini puts the bequest second and the legate third.^(Nocentini 2010)

+

+ {{homograph|1|tied}}

+

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=second quarter of the 13th century|origins=la ligō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /leˈɡa.to/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''legato''' (feminine legata, masculine plural legati, feminine plural legate, superlative legatissimo)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The participle is [[inh|la|ligātus|t=tied, bound]], the past participle of [[m|la|ligō|t=to tie, bind]], which became [[legare]].^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010)^(Wiktionary) The verb is pan-Romance: [[fr|lier]], [[oc|liar]], [[ca|lligar]], [[es|liar]], [[pt|liar]], [[sc|liare]] and [[ro|lega]].^(Nocentini 2010)

+

+ The simple Latin verb is not recorded before Catullus, the earlier texts having only compounds such as [[m|la|alligō]] and [[m|la|obligō]].^(de Vaan 2008) Its cognates are few: de Vaan accepts only [[sq|lidh|t=to tie]] and starts from a possible [[ine-pro|*leyǵ-|t=to tie]],^(de Vaan 2008) while Nocentini also compares [[non|lik|t=cord]] and [[sga|liog|t=sinew]].^(Nocentini 2010)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Nocentini dates the participle to the second quarter of the 13th century.^(Nocentini 2010) DELI's first record is in the sermons of Giordano da Pisa (1305), in the sense “joined, bound together”.^(DELI 1999)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The figurative sense “awkward, lacking ease”, as of movements or speech, is in Torquato Tasso (1580).^(DELI 1999) The adjective also means attached by affection or interest, bound by obligations, and connected;^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Treccani 2011)^(Devoto–Oli 2026) ''avere le mani legate'' is to be unable to act freely.^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Treccani 2011)^(Devoto–Oli 2026) Of a book it means bound and of a gem set in metal.^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Treccani 2011)

+

+ In music ''ligata'' is recorded in 1492 and ''legato'', of notes played without a break between them, before 1590; the noun follows in 1778.^(DIFIT) DELI's first record of the musical term is from 1846.^(DELI 1999) The term passed into French (1703), German (1732) and English (1786).^(DIFIT)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * Second quarter of the 13th century – The participle is first recorded.^(Nocentini 2010)

+ * 1305 – Giordano da Pisa uses ''legato'' for “bound together”.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1492 – Musical ''ligata'' is recorded.^(DIFIT)

+ * 1580 – Tasso uses it for “stiff, awkward”.^(DELI 1999)

+ * Before 1590 – The musical adjective ''legato'' is recorded.^(DIFIT)

+ * 1703 – French borrows the musical term.^(DIFIT)

+ * 1778 – The musical noun is recorded.^(DIFIT)

+ * 1786 – English ''legato'' is first recorded.^(DIFIT)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # [[m|en|tied]], bound, fastened: ''Il cane era legato al cancello.''^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Treccani 2011)

+ # ''(figurative)'' Bound by obligations or conditions, ''avere le mani legate'', to be unable to act freely.^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Treccani 2011)

+ # ''(figurative)'' [[m|en|attached]], close: ''È molto legato ai nonni.''^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+ # Connected, linked: ''un aumento dei prezzi legato al costo dell'energia''.^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Stiff, [[m|en|awkward]], lacking ease: ''Mi sento legato nei movimenti con questa giacca.''^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Of a book, bound; of a gem, set: ''un rubino legato in argento''.^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Treccani 2011)

+ # ''(music)'' Of notes, played without a break between them.^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Treccani 2011)^(DIFIT)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # ''(music)'' [[m|en|legato]], a smooth, unbroken way of playing.^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Gabrielli 2020)^(DIFIT)

+

+ {{homograph|2|legate}}

+

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=13th century, Detto d'Amore|origins=la lēx}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /leˈɡa.to/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''legato''' ''m'' (plural legati)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The legate is [[bor|la|lēgātus|t=envoy, deputy]], a learned word.^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010)^(GRADIT 2003)^(Wiktionary) The Latin noun is the past participle of [[m|la|lēgō|t=to send as envoy; to bequeath]], from its sense “to entrust someone with a task”.^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010) Latin used it for the Pope's envoys from the 4th century.^(DEI|2193) Compare [[fr|légat]] (12th century) and [[es|legado]].^(Nocentini 2010)^(DEI|2193)

+

+ All the senses of [[m|la|lēgō]] and of its compounds involve a task or assignment, so it is explained from [[la|lēx|t=law]], perhaps first a “collection” of rules.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Nocentini 2010)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ DELI's first record is in the ''Detto d'Amore'' (13th century), for a representative of the Holy See to a foreign government.^(DELI 1999)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Dante used the word for an ambassador in general (1304–1308).^(DELI 1999) For the ancient Roman office a 14th-century ''Libro dei fioretti della Bibbia'' explains it: “uno legato, cioè uno ambasciatore con grande balia”, a legate, that is, an ambassador with great powers.^(DELI 1999)^(GDLI) A cardinal legate governed each of the provinces of the Papal States, called ''legazioni''.^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Gabrielli 2020) The adjective ''legatizio'' is recorded from 1869.^(DELI 1999)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 13th century – The ''Detto d'Amore'' uses ''legato'' for a papal envoy.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1304–1308 – Dante uses it for an ambassador.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 14th century – The ''Libro dei fioretti della Bibbia'' uses it for a Roman envoy.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1550 – Paolo Giovio uses it as an adjective.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1869 – ''Legatizio'' is recorded.^(DELI 1999)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # ''(history)'' In ancient Rome, an [[m|en|envoy]] of the senate or emperor, a provincial governor's deputy, or a general's lieutenant.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Treccani 2011)

+ # ''(history)'' An envoy or ambassador of a state or ruler on a temporary mission.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Treccani 2011)

+ # A papal [[m|en|legate]]: ''legato pontificio''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[legatizio]]

+

+ {{homograph|3|bequest}}

+

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1286|origins=la lēx}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /leˈɡa.to/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''legato''' ''m'' (plural legati)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The bequest is [[bor|la|lēgātum|t=legacy, bequest]], a learned word from Roman law: the neuter past participle, used as a noun, of the verb meaning “to leave by will”.^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010)^(GRADIT 2003)^(Wiktionary) DELI explains that verb as “to dispose according to the law”, from [[la|lēx|t=law]].^(DELI 1999) The jurist Ulpian defined the Latin term as “quod legis modo, id est imperative, testamento relinquitur”, what is left by will in the manner of a law, that is, as a command.^(GDLI) Compare [[es|legado]] and [[pt|legado]].^(DEI|2193)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The first record is from 1286, in the spelling ''leghato''.^(DELI 1999)^(GRADIT 2003) Giovanni Villani (before 1348) writes of a testator who, among his other ''legati'', left six deniers to every poor man.^(DELI 1999)^(GDLI)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The related verb ''legare'' “to bequeath” is recorded in a Venetian will of 1321 and in Matteo Villani (before 1363), and ''legatario'', the person who receives a bequest, before 1396.^(DELI 1999) Law distinguishes kinds such as the ''legato pio'', for religious or charitable purposes, and the ''legato alimentario''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Tommaseo–Bellini 1861) In literary use the word also means a heritage handed down.^(Zingarelli 2010)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1286 – ''Leghato'' “bequest” is recorded.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1321 – The verb ''legare'' “to bequeath” appears in a Venetian will.^(DELI 1999)

+ * Before 1348 – Giovanni Villani uses ''legati''.^(DELI 1999)

+ * Before 1396 – ''Legatario'' is recorded.^(DELI 1999)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # ''(law)'' A [[m|en|bequest]], a provision in a will that leaves a particular asset to someone other than the heir; also the asset itself.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Treccani 2011)

+ # ''(literary, figurative)'' A [[m|en|legacy]], heritage.^(Zingarelli 2010)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[legare]]

+ * [[legazione]]

+ * [[legatario]]

+ * [[legame]]

+ * [[delegato]]

+ * [[la|legatus]]

+ * [[la|legatum]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}