minacciare Italian · revision 38805

+ {{infobox|confidence=probable|formation=inherited|attested=before 1294, Brunetto Latini|origins=la minor}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /mi.natˈt͡ʃa.re/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''minacciare''' (first-person singular present minàccio, first-person singular past historic minacciài, past participle minacciàto, auxiliary avére)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ DELI derives it from the noun [[minaccia|t=threat]], but adds that the formation may be very old: it may be [[inh|la-vul|*mināciō|alt=*mināciāre]].^(DELI 1999)^(GRADIT 2003)^(Wiktionary) That verb is documented as [[m|la-vul|manatiare]] in the Reichenau Glosses of about 750.^(DELI 1999) The noun continues [[la|minācia]], in classical Latin found almost only in the plural, from the adjective [[m|la|mināx|t=threatening]], properly “about to fall”.^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010)^(Wiktionary) This comes from the deponent [[m|la|minor|t=to jut out, overhang; to threaten]], whose origin is obscure.^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010)

+

+ The verb has cognates across Romance: [[fr|menacer]], [[pro|menasar]], [[ca|menassar]], [[es|amenazar]] and [[pt|ameaçar]], and [[ro|amenința]], formed in the same way.^(REW 1935)^(Körting 1907) The Latin ⟨-ci-⟩ gave Italian ⟨-cci-⟩, as in the noun.^(REW 1935)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ DELI's first record is Brunetto Latini (before 1294), with the sense of frightening or intimidating someone with threats;^(DELI 1999)^(Zingarelli 2010) Zingarelli dates the verb to about 1261.^(DELI 1999)^(Zingarelli 2010) The GDLI quotes Latini on people who had been ''forte minacciati'', “strongly threatened”.^(GDLI|10, 426)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ By about 1336 Boccaccio uses the verb with a thing as subject, for foreboding something feared or unwanted, and before 1492 Lorenzo de' Medici has the sense “to put in danger”.^(DELI 1999) Dante's sinners threaten ''col dito'', with the finger, and Tasso's warrior raises his brow ''e minacciar le stelle'', as if to threaten the stars.^(Tommaseo–Bellini 1861) Old and dialect forms include ''manazare'', ''menazzare'' and ''minazzare''.^(GDLI|10, 426)

+

+ In the modern language the verb is used of weather and events (''minaccia pioggia'', it looks like rain), and figuratively of a mountain or a castle that towers over a valley.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Treccani 2011) Tommaseo records the Tuscan proverb ''Chi minaccia, non vuol dare'', “he who threatens does not want to strike”.^(Tommaseo–Bellini 1861)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 750 – The Reichenau Glosses have ''manatiare''.^(DELI 1999)

+ * c. 1261 – First record according to Zingarelli.^(Zingarelli 2010)

+ * Before 1294 – Brunetto Latini uses ''minacciare'' “to threaten”.^(DELI 1999)

+ * c. 1336 – Boccaccio uses it for “forebode”.^(DELI 1999)

+ * Before 1492 – Lorenzo de' Medici uses it for “endanger”.^(DELI 1999)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To [[m|en|threaten]] someone, with words or gestures, so as to frighten them or force them to do something: ''Lo minacciarono con una pistola.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+ # To say that one will do something harmful (with ''di'' and the infinitive): ''Ha minacciato di andarsene per sempre.''^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Treccani 2011)

+ # ''(figurative)'' To put at risk, to [[m|en|endanger]]: ''Le frane minacciano il paese.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+ # ''(figurative)'' To [[m|en|portend]] something bad; also impersonal: ''Il cielo minaccia neve.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Treccani 2011)

+ # ''(figurative, literary)'' To [[m|en|tower]] over something with an imposing, fearsome look.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[minacciatore]]

+ * [[riminacciare]]

+ * [[minaccioso]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[minaccia]]

+ * [[menare]]

+ * [[la|minācia]]

+ * [[fr|menacer]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}