coprire Italian · revision 38962

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=late 12th century, Proverbia quae dicuntur|origins=ine-pro *h₂wer-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /koˈpri.re/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''coprire''' (first-person singular present còpro, first-person singular past historic coprìi or copèrsi, past participle copèrto, auxiliary avére)^(Wiktionary)

+ The old and poetic form is [[roa-oit|covrire]], with ''cuoprire'' and a present ''cuopro''.^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Gabrielli 2020)^(Zingarelli 2010) Sabatini–Coletti explain the /v/ of ''covrire'' as probably due to [[fr|couvrir]], through the northern dialects.^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|la|cooperiō|t=to cover completely|alt=cooperīre]], formed with [[m|la|co-]] on [[m|la|operiō|t=to cover, close]].^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010)^(GRADIT 2003)^(Wiktionary) The unstressed vowel before the stress was lost in the normal way.^(Devoto 1968|117) The past historic copersi follows the pattern of [[perdere]] and [[morire]].^(Wiktionary)

+

+ The same Latin verb gave [[fr|couvrir]], [[oc|cobrir]], [[ca|cobrir]], [[es|cubrir]], [[sc|cobèrrere]] and [[ro|acoperi]].^(Nocentini 2010)^(REW 1935)

+

+ Latin [[m|la|operiō]] forms a pair with its opposite [[m|la|aperiō|t=to open]].^(Nocentini 2010) De Vaan reconstructs [[itc-pro|*op-wer-i-|t=to cover up]], with the root [[ine-pro|*h₂wer-|t=to cover]].^(de Vaan 2008)^(Nocentini 2010)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The TLIO's first record is the Venetian ''Proverbia quae dicuntur'' of the late 12th century.^(TLIO) DELI's first date is Bono Giamboni (before 1292), for covering something to hide, close, adorn or shelter it, and for protecting or defending.^(DELI 1999) Giamboni writes of using raw hides to cover war machines.^(GDLI|3, 755)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The sense “to conceal, dissemble” is in Inghilfredi in the 13th century, and the reflexive “to cover one's body with clothes” in Jacopone da Todi (before 1306).^(DELI 1999) Dante writes ''li orecchi con le man copersi'' “I covered my ears with my hands”.^(GDLI|3, 755) In the 14th century the verb was also used of a male animal mating.^(DEI|1098)^(Prati 1951)

+

+ Later senses come from finance, office and distance: “to guarantee” in Paolo Sarpi (1619), “to hold a post” in Parini (before 1799), “to cover a distance” in Alfredo Oriani (1897–1902), and the reflexive “to protect oneself against risk” in banking (1927).^(DELI 1999) DEI sees the financial sense and ''coprirsi'' “to put one's hat on” as modelled on French ''couvrir'' and ''se couvrir''.^(DEI|1098) The noun ''coperto'' “place setting” is a calque of French ''couvert'', and most compounds in ''copri-'' (''coprifuoco'', ''copricapo'') follow French ones such as ''couvre-feu''.^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * Late 12th century – The Venetian ''Proverbia quae dicuntur'' has the first record.^(TLIO)

+ * 13th century – Inghilfredi uses ''coprire'' for “to conceal”.^(DELI 1999)

+ * Before 1292 – Bono Giamboni uses it for “to cover” and “to protect”.^(DELI 1999)

+ * Before 1306 – Jacopone da Todi has the reflexive ''coprirsi''.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 14th century – ''Coprifuoco'' “curfew” is formed on French ''couvre-feu''.^(Nocentini 2010)

+ * 1619 – Paolo Sarpi uses it for financial cover.^(DELI 1999)

+ * Before 1799 – Parini uses it for holding an office.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1897–1902 – Alfredo Oriani uses it for covering a distance.^(DELI 1999)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To [[m|en|cover]]: to put something over, in front of or around something to protect, hide or close it: ''Copri il pane con un tovagliolo.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Of a thing: to lie over, to spread over a whole surface: ''Il muschio copriva i sassi.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+ # To wrap up, to [[m|en|clothe]] against cold or sun, ''coprirsi'', to dress warmly: ''Copriti, fuori nevica.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+ # To [[m|en|protect]], to defend; in military use, to shield from enemy fire: ''coprire la ritirata''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+ # ''(figurative)'' To hide or cover up a fault; to shield someone who is guilty.^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Treccani 2011)

+ # To drown out a sound: ''Il rumore del treno copriva la sua voce.''^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Treccani 2011)

+ # To heap with, to shower with: ''coprire di baci'', ''coprire di insulti''.^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Treccani 2011)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To meet or [[m|en|guarantee]] a cost or debt: ''coprire le spese''.^(Zingarelli 2010)^(GRADIT 2003)

+ # To hold a post or office.^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+ # To travel a distance: ''Ha coperto cinquanta chilometri in due ore.''^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+ # Of a service, to reach every part of an area: ''Il segnale copre tutta la valle.''^(GRADIT 2003)

+ # ''(zootechnics)'' Of a male animal, to mate with a female.^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Treccani 2011)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[coperta]]

+ * [[copertina]]

+ * [[coperto]]

+ * [[copertone]]

+ * [[copertura]]

+ * [[copricapo]]

+ * [[coprifuoco]]

+ * [[copriletto]]

+ * [[sopraccoperta]]

+ * [[ricoprire]]

+ * [[scoprire]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[coperchio]]

+ * [[aprire]]

+ * [[la|operio]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ ''Coprire le spalle a qualcuno'' is to protect someone, to watch their back.^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(GRADIT 2003)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}