pratica Italian · revision 38865

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=c. 1260–1261, Brunetto Latini|origins=grc πρᾶξις}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /ˈpra.ti.ka/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''pratica''' ''f'' (plural pratiche)^(Wiktionary)

+ Old forms include [[roa-oit|pradica]], [[roa-oit|practica]] and [[roa-oit|prattica]].^(TLIO)^(GDLI)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is the feminine of the adjective [[pratico]] used as a noun.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(TLIO)^(Wiktionary) Nocentini and DEI instead derive it directly from [[la-lat|practicē|t=practical activity]],^(Nocentini 2010)^(DEI|3049) which comes from [[grc|πρακτική|tr=praktikḗ|t=practical (science)]], the feminine of [[m|grc|πρακτικός|tr=praktikós|t=active, practical]], from [[m|grc|πρᾶξις|tr=prâxis|t=action]].^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010)^(Wikizionario) DEI notes that Cassian, about 400, still writes the word in Greek letters.^(DEI|3049) It is a learned word, and DEI and GDLI see a northern origin in its single /t/, against the southern form with /tt/.^(DEI|3049)^(GDLI)

+

+ The same word is [[fr|pratique]], already used by Brunetto Latini, and [[es|práctica]]; it also passed into [[tr|pratika]].^(Nocentini 2010)^(DEI|3049) The bureaucratic senses “negotiations” and “file of documents” came from [[m|fr|pratique|alt=pratiques]] in the plural.^(DELI 1999)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The TLIO's first record is in Brunetto Latini's ''Rettorica'' (Florence, about 1260–1261), where it is the part of philosophy that teaches conduct: ''Pratica è per dimostrare... ciò che debbia uomo fare e che lasciare'', “Practice is for showing what a man must do and what he must leave undone”.^(TLIO)^(GDLI) DELI dates this sense to before 1294.^(DELI 1999)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The sense “activity aimed at doing something concretely” is in Giovanni Villani before 1348, “skill in using a tool or technique” in Cennino Cennini about 1390, and ''mettere in pratica'' “to put into practice” in Simone Serdini before 1420.^(DELI 1999) Old Italian also used it for direct experience and for habitual conduct.^(TLIO)

+

+ In the plural the word meant the steps taken to reach an aim, the negotiations (Sanudo, before 1536), and, from 1838 in the Milanese press the documents of an affair, a use that purists blamed on French administration.^(DELI 1999) The literary language also used it for familiarity with a person and for a love affair, and ''pratica'' once meant a regular customer.^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Gabrielli 2020) The proverb ''val più la pratica che la grammatica'' sets experience above rules.^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Treccani 2011)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * About 1260–1261 – Brunetto Latini uses ''pratica'' in his ''Rettorica''.^(TLIO)

+ * Before 1348 – Giovanni Villani uses it for “concrete activity”.^(DELI 1999)

+ * About 1390 – Cennino Cennini uses it for “skill, experience”.^(DELI 1999)

+ * Before 1420 – ''Mettere in pratica'' is recorded.^(DELI 1999)

+ * Before 1536 – Marino Sanudo uses the plural for “negotiations”.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1838 – The sense “file of documents” appears in the Milanese press.^(DELI 1999)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # [[m|en|practice]], as opposed to theory: ''Sulla carta il progetto funziona, nella pratica molto meno.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Wiktionary)

+ # The regular exercise of an activity: ''La pratica dello yoga lo ha aiutato molto.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+ # Experience, skill; familiarity with a place or a thing: ''Dopo un mese ha già preso pratica con il nuovo programma.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Professional training, [[m|en|apprenticeship]]: ''Fa pratica in uno studio di architetti.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Treccani 2011)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Custom, usual procedure: ''Nel nostro ufficio è pratica chiedere sempre due preventivi.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+ # An act or rite: ''pratiche religiose'', ''pratiche magiche''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+ # ''(bureaucracy, often in the plural)'' The formalities and paperwork needed for a purpose: ''Ho già avviato le pratiche per la pensione.''^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)^(GRADIT 2003)

+ # A file, [[m|en|dossier]], a case being dealt with: ''La pratica è ferma da mesi sulla scrivania del funzionario.''^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(literary)'' Familiarity with a person; an affair.^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Gabrielli 2020)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[praticaccia]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[praticare]]

+ * [[pratico]]

+ * [[praticante]]

+ * [[prassi]]

+ * [[fr|pratique]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ ''In pratica'' means “in practice, practically, in effect”, and ''mettere in pratica'' “to put into practice”.^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Treccani 2011)^(Devoto–Oli 2026) ''Fare pratica'' is to train or to serve an apprenticeship.^(Treccani 2011)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}