accorto Italian · revision 39128

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=before 1257, Bonagiunta Orbicciani|origins=la regō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /akˈkɔr.to/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''accorto''' (feminine accorta, masculine plural accorti, feminine plural accorte, superlative accortissimo)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is the past participle of [[accorgersi]] “to notice”, [[inh|la-vul|*accorrigō|alt=*accorrigere]], made from [[la|corrigō|t=to straighten, correct]] with the prefix [[m|la|ad-]].^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010)^(GRADIT 2003)^(Wiktionary) DELI and DEI explain the change of meaning as “to correct oneself, correct a false impression after a calmer view of the matter”, and Nocentini adds that the sense “to gain exact knowledge” is plain in the adjective and in [[accortezza]].^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010) The LEI instead starts from “to escort, watch over” and so “to pay attention to something”, a development parallel to [[scorgere]] and [[scortare]] from [[la-vul|*excorrigō]].^(LEI|1, 321)

+

+ The participle is formed like [[porto]] beside [[porgere]], and Devoto compares [[la|sortus]] beside [[m|la|surgō]], already found in Livius Andronicus.^(DELI 1999)^(Devoto 1968) [[m|la|corrigō]] is a compound of [[m|la|regō|t=to direct]].^(Wiktionary) Dialect forms include [[vec|acorto]] and [[pms|acôrt]], and the Sicilian form is [[m|scn|accortu]].^(LEI|1, 321) [[fr|accort]] and its family are borrowings from Italian.^(LEI|1, 321)^(DIFIT)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The first record is Bonagiunta Orbicciani of Lucca, in the middle of the 13th century (DELI: before 1257), who praises a lady as ''la meglio accorta'', the most discerning of all.^(DELI 1999)^(TLIO)^(GDLI)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Old Italian used ''accorto'' for a wise, skilled person, and also for “informed, aware” and “quick, ready”; the TLIO also records it of a well-chosen place and of harmonious speech.^(TLIO) Dante calls Virgil ''persona accorta'' at the gate of Hell.^(GDLI)^(Tommaseo–Bellini 1861) The senses “informed” and “quick” are now obsolete;^(Zingarelli 2010)^(GRADIT 2003) Zingarelli quotes Poliziano for the second.^(Zingarelli 2010)^(GRADIT 2003)

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+ Modern Italian keeps the sense of shrewd prudence, of people and of their actions and words.^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Treccani 2011) French borrowed ''accort'' in the middle of the 14th century for “skilful”, and later used it for “graceful, attractive”.^(DIFIT)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * Before 1257 – Bonagiunta Orbicciani uses ''accorto'' “discerning”.^(DELI 1999)

+ * Before 1292 – Bono Giamboni has ''accorgimento'' “perception”.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1293–1294 – Dante uses ''accorgersi'' “to perceive”.^(DELI 1999)

+ * Before 1347 – Bartolomeo da San Concordio has ''accortezza'' “shrewdness”.^(DELI 1999)

+ * Mid-14th century – French ''accort'' “skilful” is recorded.^(DIFIT)

+ * 1609 – French ''accorte'' “graceful” is recorded.^(DIFIT)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # [[m|en|shrewd]], [[m|en|prudent]], combining caution with cleverness: ''È un commerciante accorto, non si fa ingannare facilmente.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+ # Of actions or words, showing good judgement: ''una scelta accorta''.^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Treccani 2011)

+ # ''(obsolete)'' Informed, aware.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+ # ''(obsolete)'' Quick, ready.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[accortezza]]

+ * [[accortamente]]

+ * [[malaccorto]]

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+ ==Related words==

+ * [[accorgersi]]

+ * [[accorgimento]]

+ * [[correggere]]

+ * [[scorgere]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ ''Stare accorto'' is “to be careful, watch out”, and ''fare accorto qualcuno'' “to warn someone”.^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Gabrielli 2020) The opposite is [[malaccorto]].^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Gabrielli 2020)

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+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}