passeggiata Italian · revision 39309

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=before 1566, Annibal Caro}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /pas.sedˈd͡ʒa.ta/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''passeggiata''' ''f'' (plural passeggiate)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is formed from [[passeggiare|t=to walk, stroll]] with the suffix [[-ata]], the feminine past participle used as a noun.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Nocentini 2010)^(Treccani 2011)^(Wiktionary) The verb comes from [[passo|t=step]].^(Wikizionario) [[scn|passijata]] has the same formation.^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ DELI's first record is Annibal Caro, before 1566, with the sense “a walk, on foot or in a vehicle, especially for pleasure”.^(DELI 1999)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Before 1789 Giuseppe Baretti used the word for a street or place made for walking, as in ''la passeggiata a mare'' of seaside towns.^(DELI 1999)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026) Tommaseo's dictionary records ''passeggiata militare'', a march to train soldiers, later also a war won without resistance, and the phrase ''è una passeggiata'' for a short walk; from these comes the figurative sense “an easy task”.^(Tommaseo–Bellini 1861)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Treccani 2011) Fanfani also recorded a lover's walks to and fro under the window of the beloved.^(Tommaseo–Bellini 1861)

+

+ The word passed into English in 1950.^(DIFIT) In statistics ''passeggiata aleatoria'' translates English ''random walk''.^(Treccani 2011)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * Before 1566 – Annibal Caro uses the word.^(DELI 1999)

+ * Before 1789 – Baretti uses it for a promenade.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 19th century – Tommaseo records ''passeggiata militare''.^(Tommaseo–Bellini 1861)

+ * 1950 – English ''passeggiata'' is recorded.^(DIFIT)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A [[m|en|walk]] or [[m|en|stroll]] for pleasure or exercise, and a short ride in a vehicle: ''Dopo cena facciamo sempre una passeggiata.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+ # A street or route suited to walking, a [[m|en|promenade]]: ''la passeggiata sul lungolago''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+ # ''(figurative)'' An easy task: ''L'esame non è stato una passeggiata.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+ # ''(nautical)'' The promenade deck of a passenger ship.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[passeggiatina]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[passeggiare]]

+ * [[passeggio]]

+ * [[passeggiatrice]]

+ * [[passeggiatore]]

+ * [[passo]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ ''Passeggiata militare'' is a training march and, figuratively, a military campaign that meets no resistance.^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010) A popular form is ''spasseggiata''.^(Zingarelli 2010)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}