frequentare Italian · revision 39103

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1250, Pamphilus volgarizzato (Venice)|origins=la frequēns}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /fre.kwenˈta.re/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''frequentare''' (first-person singular present frequènto, first-person singular past historic frequentài, past participle frequentàto, auxiliary avére)^(Wiktionary)

+ Old Italian forms include Venetian [[m|roa-oit|frequentar]] and the southern infinitive [[m|roa-oit|frequentari]].^(TLIO) Old texts also have [[m|roa-oit|freguentare]].^(GDLI)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|la|frequentō|alt=frequentāre|t=to crowd; to visit often]], a learned word.^(DEI|1715)^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010)^(GRADIT 2003)^(Wiktionary) The Latin verb is formed from the adjective [[m|la|frequēns|t=crowded, frequent]], the source of Italian [[frequente]].^(Nocentini 2010)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Devoto 1968) [[fr|fréquenter]] is recorded from the 12th century, and Old French also had a popular [[fro|fregonder]].^(DEI|1715)^(REW 1935)

+

+ The origin of [[m|la|frequēns]] is uncertain: de Vaan reports Nussbaum's link with [[m|la|fraxō|t=to go the watch rounds]], from a root [[ine-pro|*bʰrekʷ-]], and an older comparison with [[m|la|farciō|t=to stuff]].^(de Vaan 2008)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The TLIO's first record is the Venetian translation of the ''Pamphilus'', around 1250, in the sense “to go regularly to a place”: the lover often goes to the place where the woman usually is.^(TLIO)^(GDLI)^(DELI 1999)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Dante (1304–1308) uses the verb for visiting a person often, and in the ''Paradiso'' for Monte Cassino, once frequented by pagans.^(DELI 1999)^(GDLI) Old Italian also used it for keeping up relations with someone, for putting something into practice and for repeating an activity.^(TLIO) Attending a course of study or school lessons is dated to the 1660s.^(DELI 1999)

+

+ The reciprocal ''frequentarsi'' “to see each other often” and the sense of going out with someone belong to the modern language, as does the figurative reading of an author often.^(Zingarelli 2010)^(GRADIT 2003) Derivatives include ''frequentatore'' (17th century) and ''frequentazione'' (14th century).^(DEI|1715)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1250 – The Venetian ''Pamphilus'' uses ''frequentare''.^(TLIO)

+ * 1304–1308 – Dante uses it for visiting a person often.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 14th century – ''Frequentazione'' and ''frequentato'' are recorded.^(DEI|1715)

+ * 17th century – ''Frequentatore'' is recorded.^(DEI|1715)

+ * 1660s – It is used for attending a course or school.^(DELI 1999)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To [[m|en|frequent]] a place; to go there regularly: ''Da ragazzo frequentava la biblioteca comunale.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+ # To see someone often, [[m|en|associate]] with; also to go out with someone: ''Non mi piace la gente che frequenti.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+ # To [[m|en|attend]] a school, university or course: ''Mia sorella frequenta il secondo anno di medicina.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+ # To read or study an author often: ''frequentare i classici''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+ # To practise regularly, especially the sacraments.^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+ # ''(archaic, literary)'' To use frequently.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+ # ''(intransitive, uncommon)'' To go often to certain places or to keep company (with ''in'' or ''con'').^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[frequentatore]]

+ * [[frequentazione]]

+ * [[frequentato]]

+ * [[frequentabile]]

+ * [[frequentarsi]]

+ * [[frequentante]]

+ * [[frequentativo]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[frequente]]

+ * [[frequenza]]

+ * [[la|frequens]]

+ * [[fr|fréquenter]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ The reciprocal ''frequentarsi'' is used of people who see each other often, or of a couple going out together.^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}