Calzavo

Calzavo is the first-person singular imperfect indicative form of the Italian verb calzare. Calzare means to put on shoes or boots, or to fit with footwear. The form calzavo is used to describe a past action that was ongoing or habitual, such as performing the act of putting on footwear as part of a routine.

Etymology and classification: Calzare is a regular verb of the first conjugation, ending in -are. Its meaning is linked to footwear and fitting, with roots that trace back to Latin calceus (shoe) and related forms such as calceare. The infinitive calzare and the derived forms share the same stem calz-.

Conjugation outline: Calzare follows the standard -are verb pattern. Present tense forms include io calzo, tu calzi, lui/lei calza, noi calziamo, voi calzate, loro calzano. Imperfect (active past) forms include io calzavo, tu calzavi, lui calzava, noi calzavamo, voi calzavate, loro calzavano. Passato remoto, used in literary contexts, yields io calzai, tu calzasti, egli calzò, noi calzammo, voi calzaste, essi calzarono. The past participle is calzato, used for compound tenses with auxiliary avere. The imperative forms are calza, calziamo, calzate.

Usage notes: Calzare is generally used with direct objects such as le scarpe (the shoes) or gli stivali (the boots). The imperfect calzavo is common in narration to set a scene or describe habitual past actions. Example: Ogni mattina, calzavo le scarpe prima di uscire. While calzare can extend metaphorically to “fit” or “be suitable,” calzavo remains primarily a literal description of wearing footwear.