invitare Italian · revision 39280

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=13th century, Odo delle Colonne|origins=la invītō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /in.viˈta.re/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''invitare''' (first-person singular present invìto, first-person singular past historic invitài, past participle invitàto, auxiliary avére)^(Wiktionary)

+ Older forms include [[roa-oit|envitare]] (Iacopone) and [[m|roa-oit|invittare]].^(DELI 1999)^(GDLI|8, 452)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|la|invītō|t=to entertain, receive; to invite]], a learned word.^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010)^(GRADIT 2003)^(Wiktionary) The popular descendants of the Latin verb mean “to challenge, to bid in a game”: [[fro|envier]], [[pro|envidar]], [[ca|envidar]], [[es|envidar]] and [[pt|envidar]]; for the Latin sense, Romance turned to [[m|la|convītō|t=to invite]], whence [[convitare]].^(REW 1935)^(Körting 1907) [[fr|inviter]] is from the 14th century.^(DEI|2085) The noun [[invito]] is an Italian deverbal;^(DELI 1999) DELI also mentions Bruno Migliorini's idea that it began as the first person of the verb, lifted from formulas such as “I invite Mr X to take part”.^(DELI 1999)

+

+ The origin of the Latin verb is uncertain.^(DELI 1999)^(de Vaan 2008) DELI and Nocentini analyse it as [[m|la|in-]] and a verb formed from an unattested adjective [[m|la|*vītus|t=well disposed]], found with the negative prefix in [[m|la|invītus|t=unwilling]]; the original sense would have been “to treat well, receive kindly”.^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010) De Vaan reconstructs a verb [[itc-pro|*wītā-|t=to pursue]], from [[ine-pro|*uih₁-to-|t=pursued]], which is related to [[sa|वीत|tr=vītá|t=turned to]] and [[lt|vyti|t=to drive, pursue]].^(de Vaan 2008) DEI's derivation from the negative prefix and [[m|la|vītō|t=to avoid]] stands alone.^(DEI|2085)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ DELI's earliest sense is “to induce, urge”, in the Sicilian poet Odo delle Colonne in the 13th century.^(DELI 1999) The sense “to ask someone to take part in something solemn or pleasant” follows in Iacopone da Todi (before 1306) as ''envitare'': ''Amanti, voi envito a noze sì ioiose'' (“Lovers, I invite you to a wedding so joyful”).^(DELI 1999)^(GDLI|8, 452) Dante has ''invitare''.^(DELI 1999)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Dante and Donato degli Albanzani also use the verb for requesting with authority that someone do or say something.^(DELI 1999) In Boccaccio a woman ''sé stessa invitava'' “invited herself”, not with words but with deeds.^(GDLI|8, 452) Card games gave the senses “to call a card or suit” (Castiglione, before 1529) and, in poker, “to make the opening bet” (1939–1940).^(DELI 1999) Medieval Latin names of games of chance at Perugia (1296) and Assisi (1469) come from the same verb.^(DEI|2085) DEI considers the sense “to order politely” a French borrowing of the 18th century.^(DEI|2085)

+

+ Modern Italian also uses it for a command given with formal courtesy, for tempting or inducing, as with weather that invites a walk, and in sport for challenging an opponent.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Treccani 2011)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 13th century – Odo delle Colonne uses the verb for “to induce, urge”.^(DELI 1999)

+ * Before 1306 – Iacopone da Todi uses ''envitare'' “to invite”.^(DELI 1999)

+ * Before 1321 – Dante uses ''invitare''.^(DELI 1999)

+ * Before 1529 – Castiglione uses it for calling a card in a game.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1834 – ''Invitare'' “to screw in” is recorded.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)

+ * 1939–1940 – The poker sense is recorded.^(DELI 1999)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To [[m|en|invite]] someone to a party, meal or event: ''Ci hanno invitati a pranzo domenica.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+ # To offer hospitality: ''Mi ha invitato a passare l'estate da lui.''^(Devoto–Oli 2026)

+ # To ask politely to do or say something; to urge: ''Il presidente invitò i presenti a prendere posto.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+ # To order with formal courtesy: ''L'agente lo invitò a mostrare i documenti.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Treccani 2011)

+ # ''(figurative)'' To [[m|en|tempt]], induce: ''Una giornata così invita a stare all'aperto.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Treccani 2011)

+ # To [[m|en|challenge]]; to propose a game: ''invitare qualcuno a scacchi''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)

+ # ''(card games)'' To call a card or suit; in poker, to make the opening bet.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+ # ''(literary)'' To rouse, incite.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[invito]]

+ * [[invitante]]

+ * [[invitato]]

+ * [[disinvitare]]

+ * [[autoinvitarsi]]

+ * [[invitabile]]

+ * [[invitatore]]

+ * [[invitatorio]]

+ * [[reinvitare]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[convitare]]

+ * [[la|invītō]]

+ * [[fr|inviter]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ ''Invitare a nozze'' means to offer someone exactly what they like or do best.^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Treccani 2011) A minor homograph, ''invitare'' “to screw in, fix with screws” (1834), is formed from [[vite|alt=vite]] “screw” with ''in-'';^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(GDLI|8, 453) GRADIT marks it as rare, and the usual word is ''avvitare''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(GDLI|8, 453)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}