trasformare Italian · revision 39005

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=before 1306, Iacopone da Todi|origins=la fōrma}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /tras.forˈma.re/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''trasformare''' (first-person singular present trasfórmo, first-person singular past historic trasformài, past participle trasformàto, auxiliary avére)^(Wiktionary)

+ The older spelling ''transformare'' is common in the 14th century.^(DEI|3868)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(GDLI)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is a learned word, [[bor|la|trānsfōrmō|t=to change in shape]], from [[m|la|fōrma|t=form, shape]] with the prefix [[m|la|trāns-|t=across, beyond]], which expresses the change.^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010)^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Devoto 1968) Nocentini analyses it as [[m|la|fōrmō|t=to form]] with the prefix.^(Nocentini 2010) The Latin verb is used by Virgil and Quintilian;^(DEI|3868)^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026) DEI and GRADIT compare it to [[grc|μεταμορφίζω|tr=metamorphízō|t=to transform]], of which DEI and Sabatini call it a calque.^(DEI|3868)^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026) The same learned word is [[fr|transformer]] and [[es|transformar]].^(Nocentini 2010)

+

+ DEI places it among the learned words and notes [[fro|tresformer]] beside the French verb, recorded from the 14th century.^(DEI|3868)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The first record is the reflexive ''trasformarsi'', to become different in shape, appearance or thinking, before 1306 in Iacopone da Todi;^(DELI 1999)^(DEI|3868) Iacopone also has ''trasformazione''.^(DELI 1999)^(DEI|3868) The transitive “to change in shape or appearance” follows in Boccaccio (1348–1353).^(DELI 1999)^(GRADIT 2003)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Boccaccio uses the verb for people whom age has changed beyond recognition, and Petrarch (1374) for a change of character and feelings.^(DELI 1999)^(GDLI)^(Tommaseo–Bellini 1861) In the 14th century ''transformare'' could also mean to translate, as in Guido delle Colonne's vernacular version and Boccaccio's commentary on Dante.^(DEI|3868)^(Tommaseo–Bellini 1861)

+

+ The derivatives followed the sciences and politics: ''trasformabile'' and ''trasformatore'' appear before 1704 in Lorenzo Bellini, ''trasformatore'' takes its electrical sense in 1905, and ''trasformismo'' (1874) named both the shifting parliamentary alliances associated with Agostino Depretis and, in biology, evolutionism.^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010) In sport the verb now means to score from a set kick, a penalty in football or a conversion in rugby.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * Before 1306 – Iacopone da Todi uses ''trasformarsi''.^(DELI 1999)^(DEI|3868)

+ * 1348–1353 – Boccaccio uses the transitive verb.^(DELI 1999)^(GRADIT 2003)

+ * 1374 – Petrarch uses it of a change of character.^(DELI 1999)

+ * Before 1704 – Lorenzo Bellini has ''trasformabile'' and ''trasformatore''.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1874 – ''trasformismo'' appears as a political term.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1905 – ''trasformatore'' names the electrical transformer.^(DELI 1999)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Verb===

+ # ''(transitive)'' To change the appearance, form or structure of something radically, to [[m|en|transform]]: ''Il nuovo parco ha trasformato il quartiere.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)

+ # ''(transitive)'' To turn something or someone into something else: ''La fata trasformò la zucca in una carrozza.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+ # ''(transitive)'' To change someone's character or ideas: ''Quel viaggio l'ha trasformato.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)

+ # ''(transitive, sciences)'' To change the structure of a mineral or of an animal or plant tissue; in mathematics, to obtain one entity from another by a [[m|en|transformation]].^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)

+ # ''(transitive, sport)'' In football and rugby, to score from a set kick: ''trasformare un calcio di punizione''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+ # ''(pronominal, trasformarsi)'' To become completely different, to turn into: ''Il girino si trasforma in rana.''^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[trasformazione]]

+ * [[trasformatore]]

+ * [[trasformabile]]

+ * [[trasformismo]]

+ * [[trasformista]]

+ * [[trasformativo]]

+ * [[ritrasformare]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[formare]]

+ * [[forma]]

+ * [[la|trānsfōrmō]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}