prete Italian · revision 39372

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=first half of the 12th century (form prevede)|origins=grc πρέσβυς}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /ˈprɛ.te/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''prete''' ''m'' (plural preti)^(Wiktionary)

+ Old forms include [[roa-oit|preite]], [[roa-oit|prevede]], [[roa-oit|preveo]], [[roa-oit|priete]] and the learned [[roa-oit|presvite]].^(GDLI|14, 285)^(Prati 1951|803) Before a name the clipped form ''pre'' is used.^(Körting 1907)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|roa-oit|preite]], [[inh|la-vul|*previter]], the popular outcome of [[la-lat|presbyter|t=elder; priest]], a word of the Christian Church.^(Nocentini 2010)^(GRADIT 2003)^(Wiktionary) The Latin word was borrowed from [[grc|πρεσβύτερος|tr=presbúteros|t=older]], the comparative of [[m|grc|πρέσβυς|tr=présbus|t=old man]].^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Wiktionary) The learned form of the same word is [[presbitero]].^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010) Nocentini notes that the Italian word continues the nominative and vocative rather than the accusative, as happens with other very common nouns for people, such as [[moglie]] and [[uomo]].^(Nocentini 2010)

+

+ A variant [[la-lat|praebyter]] is recorded in inscriptions and glosses.^(Nocentini 2010)^(DEI|3073) It has been explained by a blend with [[m|la|arbiter|t=arbiter]], but DEI prefers a blend with [[m|la|praebitor|t=provider]], an idea the GDLI also gives.^(DEI|3073)^(GDLI|14, 285) Devoto explains the Tuscan form by the complete weakening of the intervocalic /b/ through /v/, typical of central and northern Italy, against the southern tradition of [[roa-oit|previte]]; the diphthong /ei/ of the Old Italian form was then reduced, as in [[quaranta]].^(Devoto 1968|344)

+

+ The word is found across the Romance languages: [[fr|prêtre]], [[oc|pestre]], [[ca|preste]], [[es|preste]], [[pt|preste]], [[sc|preide]], [[fur|predi]] and [[ro|preot]].^(Nocentini 2010)^(REW 1935) The French word was borrowed as [[de|Priester]] and [[en|priest]].^(Nocentini 2010) The Latin word was also borrowed into [[cy|pryfder]], [[sq|prift]] and [[eu|bereter]].^(DEI|3073)^(REW 1935)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ GRADIT dates the first record to the first half of the 12th century, in the old form ''prevede''.^(GRADIT 2003) DELI's first record is in Garzo, about 1225, and Nocentini gives 1228; the sense is “priest”, a secular cleric of the Church.^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010) Garzo writes: ''Prete talor predica / di quel che sé non medica'' (“A priest sometimes preaches about what he does not cure in himself”).^(GDLI|14, 285)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ From the start the word named the ordained minister of the Catholic Church, and in Old Italian also a pagan priest of idols, as in Cavalca.^(Prati 1951|803)^(Tommaseo–Bellini 1861) By extension it came to mean a minister of any religion, and in modern use it can be disparaging, for a hypocritical, unctuous person or a supporter of the clergy in politics.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Treccani 2011) The Prester John of medieval legend is ''prete Gianni'', earlier ''presto Giovanni'' in Giovanni Villani.^(DEI|3074)^(Prati 1951|803)

+

+ In many parts of Italy ''prete'' also named the wooden frame that held a pan of embers between the sheets to warm a bed, recorded from before 1722.^(DELI 1999) Lombardy says ''frate'', Liguria ''monaca'' and Tuscany ''suora'' for it, and French, Catalan and Spanish name it after monks and friars too.^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010) Tagliavini, quoted by DELI, rejects a satirical allusion to clerical celibacy and sees a personification: the useful object warms the bed and leaves before its owner gets in, like a person who serves others.^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010) In Tuscan dialect the word is also a bird name, the stonechat, recorded in 1886.^(DEI|3074)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * First half of the 12th century – The old form ''prevede'' is recorded.^(GRADIT 2003)

+ * About 1225 – Garzo uses ''prete''.^(DELI 1999)

+ * About 1346 – The adjective ''pretesco'' “priestly” is recorded.^(Nocentini 2010)

+ * Early 16th century – ''Spretarsi'' “to leave the priesthood” appears.^(Nocentini 2010)

+ * 1691 – ''Spretato'' “unfrocked” is recorded.^(Nocentini 2010)

+ * Before 1722 – Girolamo Gigli uses ''prete'' for the frame of a bed-warmer.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1886 – ''Prete'' is recorded as a Tuscan name of the stonechat.^(DEI|3074)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # [[m|en|priest]]: a minister of the Catholic Church, especially of the secular clergy: ''Il prete del paese benedice le case a Pasqua.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+ # By extension, a minister of another religion: ''Alla cerimonia c'erano anche due preti anglicani.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Treccani 2011)

+ # ''(figurative, derogatory)'' A [[m|en|hypocritical]], unctuous person.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Treccani 2011)

+ # ''(popular)'' A wooden frame that held a pan of embers between the sheets to warm a bed.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[pretesco]]

+ * [[spretarsi]]

+ * [[spretato]]

+ * [[pretino]]

+ * [[pretone]]

+ * [[pretaccio]]

+ * [[pretume]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[presbitero]]

+ * [[arciprete]]

+ * [[la|presbyter]]

+ * [[fr|prêtre]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Common phrases include ''farsi prete'' “to become a priest”, ''scherzo da prete'' “a nasty trick in bad taste”, ''boccone del prete'' “the parson's nose of a cooked chicken; a delicacy” and ''prete operaio'' “worker priest”.^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Treccani 2011)^(Gabrielli 2020) ''Pesce prete'' is the stargazer, a fish of the Mediterranean.^(Treccani 2011)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}