personaggio Italian · revision 39028

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1483, Luigi Pulci|origins=la persōna}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /per.soˈnad.d͡ʒo/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''personaggio''' ''m'' (plural personaggi)^(Wiktionary)

+ Older forms include ''personàgio'' and the northern ''personazo''.^(GDLI|13, 108)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|fr|personnage]], a derivative of [[m|fr|personne|t=person]].^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010)^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(DEI|2866) In French the word is recorded from 1220–1230 for an important person, at first a church dignitary, and, from 1403 for a person represented in a work of art.^(DELI 1999)^(GDLI|13, 108) Devoto sees the French word crossed with the native word for “person”;^(Devoto 1968) Wiktionary also analyses it as [[af|it|persona|-aggio]].^(Wiktionary)

+

+ The French noun goes back to [[la|persōna|t=theatrical mask; character, role]].^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010) The Latin word is a term of the theatre, usually traced to [[ett|phersu]], found in tomb inscriptions beside masked figures.^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010) Nocentini adds that the Etruscan word may itself adapt [[grc|πρόσωπον|tr=prósōpon|t=face; mask]], so that the word would have reached Rome from Greek through Etruscan.^(Nocentini 2010)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ DELI's first record is in Luigi Pulci in 1483, in the sense “masquerade”.^(DELI 1999) DEI also dates this sense to the 15th century.^(DEI|2866) The sense “person represented in a play” is recorded in 1551, in the title of a Venetian comedy that lists its characters as ''personaggi''.^(DELI 1999)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The sense “eminent, important person” is first found in Annibal Caro, who died in 1566.^(DELI 1999) In 16th-century chronicles a ''personazo'' is a high official or a great lord: Girolamo Priuli writes of a French ''personazo'' of great reputation who was given the castle and government of Milan.^(GDLI|13, 108) Tommaseo's dictionary explained the link with the stage: actors of antiquity wore masks, and the characters of tragedy were kings and great men.^(Tommaseo–Bellini 1861)

+

+ From the stage the word passed to the characters of novels, films and television, and colloquially to any odd or eccentric person.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026) The old senses “masked person” and “masked party” are now archaic.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026) In Mafia slang a ''personaggio'' can be a hired killer.^(Devoto–Oli 2026)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1220–1230 – French ''personnage'' is recorded for an important person.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1403 – French ''personnage'' is used for a character in a work.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1483 – Pulci uses ''personaggio'' for a masquerade.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1551 – ''Personaggi'' are the characters of a Venetian comedy.^(DELI 1999)

+ * Before 1566 – Annibal Caro uses it for an eminent person.^(DELI 1999)^(GRADIT 2003)

+ * 1861 – Tommaseo's dictionary explains the word from the masks of ancient actors.^(Tommaseo–Bellini 1861)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # An important or well-known [[m|en|personage]], a [[personalità|alt=personality]]: ''Alla cena erano presenti diversi personaggi del mondo finanziario.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+ # A [[m|en|character]] in a play, novel, film or television series, including animals given human traits: ''Il protagonista è il personaggio più riuscito del romanzo.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Treccani 2011)

+ # ''(colloquial)'' An eccentric, original person, a [[tipo|alt=type]]: ''Il nostro vicino è davvero un personaggio.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Treccani 2011)

+ # ''(archaic)'' A masked person; a masked party.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)

+ # ''(slang)'' A [[sicario|alt=hired killer]] of the Mafia.^(Devoto–Oli 2026)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[persona]]

+ * [[personale]]

+ * [[personalità]]

+ * [[fr|personnage]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ ''Entrare nel personaggio'' is said of an actor who identifies fully with the part.^(GRADIT 2003) A ''personaggio pubblico'' is a public figure.^(GRADIT 2003)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}