tecnico Italian · revision 39311

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1751–1754, Giovanni Targioni Tozzetti|origins=grc τέχνη}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /ˈtɛk.ni.ko/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''tecnico''' (feminine tecnica, masculine plural tecnici, feminine plural tecniche)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is a learned word, [[bor|la|technicus|t=master of an art]], from [[grc|τεχνικός|tr=tekhnikós|t=skilled, of an art]], derived from [[m|grc|τέχνη|tr=tékhnē|t=art, craft]].^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010)^(GRADIT 2003)^(OLD 2012) Nocentini traces the Greek noun to the same root as [[m|grc|τέκτων|tr=téktōn|t=carpenter, builder]].^(Nocentini 2010) The word is shared by the European languages: [[fr|technique]] is recorded from 1721.^(Nocentini 2010)^(GRADIT 2003)

+

+ The Latin adjective belonged to the learned language, together with a few late compounds openly taken from Greek, and modern coiners took it up for new words, sometimes going back to Greek, as for [[tecnologia]], sometimes combining the prefix [[tecno-]] with other elements.^(DELI 1999)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ DELI's first record is the naturalist Giovanni Targioni Tozzetti (1751–1754), with the sense “relating to an art or discipline and its practice”;^(DELI 1999)^(GRADIT 2003) GRADIT dates it 1754.^(DELI 1999)^(GRADIT 2003) In 1785 Melchiorre Cesarotti wished that ''i termini tecnici'' be left to the learned.^(DELI 1999)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In the 19th century purists did not always accept the word, especially in ''termine tecnico'' (1812), but Gherardini praised it as so pithy that thanks were due to whoever brought it into Italian.^(DELI 1999) Prati notes an older sense, “artificial”, in Algarotti, and the ''scuole tecniche'', schools for trades and professions founded in Milan in 1839.^(Prati 1951|981)^(Tommaseo–Bellini 1861)

+

+ The noun, “a person with practical skill in a field”, is recorded from 1895, and ''tecnica'' “technique” from 1891.^(DELI 1999) In sport ''il tecnico'' is the coach of a team, and ''commissario tecnico'' the manager of the national football team.^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Treccani 2011) In politics ''un governo di tecnici'' is a government of experts rather than politicians.^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1721 – French ''technique'' is recorded.^(GRADIT 2003)

+ * 1751–1754 – Targioni Tozzetti uses the adjective.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1785 – Cesarotti writes of ''termini tecnici''.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1839 – The ''scuole tecniche'' are founded in Milan.^(Prati 1951|981)

+ * 1891 – ''Tecnica'' “technique” is recorded.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1895 – The noun “technician” is recorded.^(DELI 1999)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Relating to the practical side of an art, science or discipline; [[m|en|technical]]: ''Ha delle buone conoscenze tecniche ma poca esperienza.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+ # Proper to a particular science or activity: ''linguaggio tecnico'', ''termine tecnico''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+ # Of sportswear and equipment, made with advanced materials for a specific use.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # A [[m|en|technician]] or expert with practical knowledge of a field; someone who carries out the plans of others: ''Domani passa il tecnico a riparare la caldaia.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+ # ''(sports)'' The [[m|en|coach]] of a team.^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Wikizionario)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[tecnica]]

+ * [[tecnicamente]]

+ * [[tecnicismo]]

+ * [[tecnicizzare]]

+ * [[tecnigrafo]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[tecnicistico]]

+ * [[tecno-]]

+ * [[tecnologia]]

+ * [[tecnocrazia]]

+ * [[politecnico]]

+ * [[grc|τέχνη|tr=tékhnē]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}