simpatico Italian · revision 39029

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=1657, Francesco Scannelli|origins=grc συμπάθεια}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /simˈpa.ti.ko/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''simpatico''' (feminine simpatica, masculine plural simpatici, feminine plural simpatiche, superlative simpaticissimo)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[af|it|simpatia|-ico]].^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Wiktionary) The noun is a learned word of the 16th century, from [[la|sympathīa|t=natural affinity]], from [[grc|συμπάθεια|tr=sumpátheia|t=fellow feeling]], a compound of [[m|grc|σύν|tr=sún|t=with]] and a derivative of [[m|grc|πάσχω|tr=páskhō|t=to suffer]].^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010)

+

+ The anatomical sense, “sympathetic (nervous system)”, has a separate history: the term was introduced in 1732 by the anatomist Jacob Winslow, and Italian took it from New Latin [[m|la-new|sympathicus]], formed on [[m|grc|συμπαθής|tr=sumpathḗs|t=sharing feelings]] or [[m|grc|συμπαθικός|tr=sumpathikós|t=feeling the same influence]].^(GDLI)^(GRADIT 2003)^(Nocentini 2010)^(Zingarelli 2010) GRADIT, Zingarelli, Wiktionary and Nocentini give it a numbered entry of its own.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Wiktionary)^(Nocentini 2010) Treccani derives it from the everyday adjective.^(Treccani 2011) The noun had a medical sense too: in 1583 it named the tendency of parts of the body to suffer the same disorders.^(DELI 1999)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ DELI's first record is from Francesco Scannelli in 1657, with the sense “concerning the attraction between persons and things”, the occult force that Renaissance philosophers called ''simpatia''.^(DELI 1999)^(GRADIT 2003) Nocentini, Devoto–Oli and Sabatini–Coletti date the adjective to the 18th century.^(Nocentini 2010)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ DELI, quoting Durante, explains that ''simpatia'' first named an irresistible hidden force of attraction, discussed by philosophers, physicians and theorists of magic, and only later, with the decline of the occult sciences and through Hume's ethics, a feeling of goodwill.^(DELI 1999) The adjective followed: ''simpatico'' “arousing liking” is recorded in a Milanese newspaper in 1827.^(DELI 1999) Panzini noted in 1905 that the moral sense followed French usage, that purists disliked it, but that ''simpatico'' and ''antipatico'' were in common popular use.^(DELI 1999) Writers of the 19th century such as Nievo and Carducci use it of faces and persons.^(GDLI)^(Tommaseo–Bellini 1861)

+

+ The anatomical sense is found from Lorenzo Pascoli (1730–1736), and ''gran simpatico'' from 1829.^(DELI 1999) The physical sense survives in ''corde simpatiche'', strings that sound by resonance, and ''inchiostro simpatico'' is invisible ink.^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010) English has borrowed ''simpatico'' (from Spanish or Italian) since 1864.^(DIFIT)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1560 – ''Simpatia'' is recorded for an instinctive attraction.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1657 – Francesco Scannelli uses ''simpatico'' of the attraction between things.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1730–1736 – Lorenzo Pascoli uses ''simpatico'' of the nervous system.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1732 – Jacob Winslow introduces the anatomical term.^(GDLI)

+ * 1827 – A Milanese newspaper uses ''simpatico'' for “likeable”.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1829 – ''Nervo gran simpatico'' is recorded.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1864 – English ''simpatico'' is first recorded.^(DIFIT)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # [[m|en|likeable]], nice, pleasant: arousing [[simpatia|alt=sympathy]] and goodwill: ''Il nuovo collega è molto simpatico.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+ # Friendly, [[affabile|alt=affable]], showing kindness: ''Ha un modo di fare simpatico.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Gabrielli 2020)

+ # Pleasant, enjoyable, amusing: ''Abbiamo passato un pomeriggio simpatico al mare.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+ # In negative impersonal phrases, polite or proper: ''Non è simpatico partire senza dire niente.''^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Treccani 2011)

+ # ''(music, physics)'' Produced by [[risonanza|alt=resonance]]: ''corde simpatiche'', sympathetic strings.^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Gabrielli 2020)

+ # ''(chemistry)'' ''Inchiostro simpatico'': invisible ink that appears only with a reagent.^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Gabrielli 2020)

+ # ''(anatomy)'' Of or relating to the [[m|en|sympathetic nervous system]]: ''cellule simpatiche''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Gabrielli 2020)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # A likeable person: ''Suo fratello è un gran simpatico.''^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+ # ''(anatomy)'' The sympathetic nervous system, ''gran simpatico'', the whole autonomic nervous system.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Treccani 2011)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[simpaticone]]

+ * [[simpaticamente]]

+ * [[simpaticità]]

+ * [[parasimpatico]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[simpatia]]

+ * [[antipatico]]

+ * [[simpatizzare]]

+ * [[patire]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ The opposite is ''antipatico''.^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Gabrielli 2020) ''Stare simpatico a qualcuno'' or ''riuscire simpatico'' is to be liked by someone.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Zingarelli 2010) The augmentative ''simpaticone'' is a jolly, likeable person.^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Treccani 2011)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}