imbarazzante Italian · revision 39011

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=before 1729, Anton Maria Salvini|origins=pt baraço}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /im.ba.ratˈt͡san.te/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''imbarazzante''' ''m or f'' by sense (plural imbarazzanti)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is the present participle of [[imbarazzare|t=to hamper; to embarrass]], used as an adjective: [[af|it|imbarazzare|-ante]].^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+

+ The verb is [[bor|es|embarazar]] (1460), which comes from [[pt|embaraçar|t=to tie up, hinder with a cord]], built on [[m|pt|baraço|t=cord, strap]].^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010)^(DEI|1937) DELI calls the Portuguese noun probably pre-Roman, perhaps Celtic;^(DELI 1999)^(DEI|1937) DEI calls it of uncertain origin and compares [[la-med|bar(r)aza|t=snare]] (1136).^(DELI 1999)^(DEI|1937) Zaccaria showed that Italian examples begin in the early 16th century, among them a 1507 translation of Columbus that renders the Spanish verb, and become very common in the 17th and 18th centuries;^(DELI 1999)^(Zaccaria 1901) French had little influence on Italian in the 16th century, so the source is Spanish.^(DELI 1999)^(Zaccaria 1901) [[fr|embarrasser]] also came from Spanish.^(Nocentini 2010)^(DEI|1937) Wiktionary allows that the verb may instead be formed from the noun [[imbarazzo]], itself [[m|es|embarazo]].^(Wiktionary)^(Nocentini 2010)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The first record is in Anton Maria Salvini (before 1729), who praises a style “with a majestic neatness, with a comfortable and not ''imbarazzante'' bearing”, that is, one that does not hamper.^(DELI 1999)^(GDLI)^(Tommaseo–Bellini 1861) In 1853 d'Ayala noted that Salvini's sense was not the one then current, “distressing, troubling”.^(DELI 1999)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The physical sense “cumbersome, hampering movement” lasted into the 18th century: Spallanzani found Turkish dress among the most ''imbarazzanti'' for fighting.^(GDLI) The modern sense, “causing embarrassment or awkwardness”, appears with Casti, Cesarotti and Manzoni, who calls a situation in ''Fermo e Lucia'' embarrassing enough to explain a bride's sudden disappearance.^(GDLI) It also took the meaning “difficult, problematic”, of a judgement or a comparison.^(GDLI) Today it is the usual word for a question, a situation or a silence that makes people uncomfortable.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1460 – Spanish ''embarazar'' is first recorded.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1507 – Italian ''imbarazzare'' renders the Spanish verb in a translation of Columbus.^(DELI 1999)^(Zaccaria 1901)

+ * Before 1729 – Salvini uses ''imbarazzante'' “hampering”.^(DELI 1999)^(GDLI)

+ * 1853 – d'Ayala records the sense “distressing, troubling”.^(DELI 1999)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # [[m|en|embarrassing]], awkward: making someone feel uncomfortable or ill at ease: ''Il professore mi ha fatto una domanda imbarazzante davanti a tutti.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+ # In impersonal use with an infinitive: ''È imbarazzante ammettere di aver sbagliato.''^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+ # ''(dated)'' [[ingombrante|alt=Cumbersome]], hampering movement.^(GDLI)^(Tommaseo–Bellini 1861)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[imbarazzare]]

+ * [[imbarazzo]]

+ * [[imbarazzato]]

+ * [[sbarazzare]]

+ * [[es|embarazar]]

+ * [[fr|embarrasser]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}