scattare Italian · revision 39347

+ {{infobox|confidence=disputed|formation=inherited|attested=14th century|origins=la captō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /skatˈta.re/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''scattare''' (first-person singular present scàtto, first-person singular past historic scattài, past participle scattàto, auxiliary (transitive, alternatively also in the intransitive meaning "to be released suddenly") avére or (intransitive in other meanings) èssere)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ Most dictionaries derive it from an unrecorded [[inh|la-vul|*excaptō|alt=*excaptāre|t=to try to seize]], formed from [[m|la|ex-]] and [[la|captō|t=to try to catch]], itself a derivative of [[m|la|capiō|t=to take]].^(DELI 1999)^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Treccani 2011) The prefix is explained either as intensive or as negative, the verb meaning first “to slip out of a grip”.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Gabrielli 2020)

+

+ Nocentini rejects the Vulgar Latin verb: the northern dialect verb meaning “to scratch about”, on which it rests, has a separate history.^(Nocentini 2010) He takes the verb as a recent formation [[af|it|s-|cattare|t2=to take, catch]], the prefix giving the sense “to break free of the hold”, and places its rise in clockwork, for a part that is suddenly released from the mechanism holding it.^(Nocentini 2010) Devoto–Oli follow this view, and the LEI and Meyer-Lübke also list it among the derivatives of the old verb.^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(LEI|11, 26)^(REW 1935) That old verb itself continues the Latin one.^(REW 1935)^(LEI|11, 26)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ DEI dates the verb to the 14th century and cites Benedetto Varchi, in the 16th, for the sense “to slip away, escape”;^(DEI|3379)^(Zingarelli 2010) Zingarelli dates it before 1573.^(DEI|3379)^(Zingarelli 2010) The LEI records ''scattare'' “to deviate, differ” (of a hair, a nail's breadth) from before 1665, in Lorenzo Lippi, and DELI's first record of the mechanical sense is in Lorenzo Magalotti, before 1712.^(LEI|11, 26)^(DELI 1999)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In the 18th century the verb was used of springs and mechanisms released from tension: Salvini explains that a spring ''scatta'' when it escapes its hold, and Averani describes a pendulum clock whose tongue clicks every minute.^(GDLI|17, 892)^(DELI 1999) The figurative sense “to burst out in anger or impatience” is recorded in the first half of the 18th century, and the sense “to spring up, move suddenly” in Tommaseo–Bellini in 1872.^(DELI 1999) Soldiers ''scattano sull'attenti'' from 1906, and in sport the verb has meant “to accelerate suddenly” since about 1970.^(LEI|11, 26)

+

+ The transitive use “to take a photograph”, from the click of the shutter, is recorded in 1918 by Sabatini–Coletti and in 1964, in Mario Soldati, by DELI.^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(DELI 1999) The verb also means “to start, come into force” and “to rise to a higher level”, as a salary does; the noun ''scatto'' has meant a pay rise since 1927.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(DELI 1999)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 16th century – Benedetto Varchi uses ''scattare'' “to escape”.^(DEI|3379)

+ * Before 1665 – Lorenzo Lippi uses it for “to deviate”.^(LEI|11, 26)

+ * 1666 – Lorenzo Magalotti uses the noun ''scatto''.^(DELI 1999)

+ * Before 1712 – Magalotti uses the verb of a spring released from tension.^(DELI 1999)

+ * First half of the 18th century – It is used for “to burst out in anger”.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1872 – Tommaseo–Bellini record it for “to spring up”.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1906 – ''Scattare sull'attenti'' is recorded.^(LEI|11, 26)

+ * 1927 – ''Scatto'' is used for a pay rise.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1964 – Mario Soldati uses ''scattare una fotografia''.^(DELI 1999)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Verb===

+ # Of a spring or mechanism, to be released suddenly, to go off, to [[m|en|click]]: ''Il grilletto è scattato a vuoto.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+ # To come into operation automatically, to be triggered: ''Di notte l'allarme è scattato due volte.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+ # ''(figurative)'' To begin suddenly, to come into force: ''L'operazione scatterà domani all'alba.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+ # To spring up or forward, to jump: ''scattare in piedi'', ''scattare sull'attenti''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+ # ''(sports)'' To [[m|en|sprint]], to accelerate suddenly.^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+ # ''(figurative)'' To lose one's temper, to snap: ''Basta una parola e scatta.''^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+ # ''(figurative)'' Of a feeling, to arise suddenly.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)

+ # ''(figurative)'' To rise to a higher level or grade.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Treccani 2011)

+ # ''(transitive, photography)'' To take a photograph: ''scattare una foto''.^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[scattante]]

+ * [[scattista]]

+ * [[scatto]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[cattare]]

+ * [[captare]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ The auxiliary is ''essere''; in the mechanical sense ''avere'' is also found.^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Wiktionary) Zingarelli records an obsolete use in phrases such as ''ci scatta un pelo'', “there is a hair's breadth of difference”.^(Zingarelli 2010)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}