Peggiorato

Peggiorato is the past participle of the Italian verb peggiorare, which means to worsen or to deteriorate. As an adjective, peggiorato describes something that has become worse or more unfavorable. In practice, it is used in both descriptive contexts and in formed verbal tenses to indicate a change of state.

Etymology and forms: peggiorare derives from the comparative adjective peggio, meaning worse, which itself traces back to the Latin form peior from malus or related roots. The past participle peggiorato follows regular Italian agreement patterns and can change to peggiorata, peggiorati, or peggiorate to agree with the noun it modifies or with the subject in compound tenses.

Usage: Peggiorato is commonly used with auxiliary verbs avere or essere in compound tenses. When used intransitively to describe a change of state, the auxiliary essere is typically used and the participle agrees with the subject: la situazione si è peggiorata (the situation has worsened). When used transitively to indicate that something has caused a worsening condition, avere is used and the participle may agree with a preceding direct object: questo farmaco ha peggiorato la malattia (this drug has worsened the illness). Peggiorato can also function as an adjective in noun phrases: segni peggiorati, condizioni peggiorate.

Examples: La temperatura è peggiorata negli ultimi giorni. Il danno potrebbe peggiorare senza interventi tempestivi. La situazione si è peggiorata a causa di ritardi nelle consegne.

See also: the related adjective peggior, meaning worse, and the verb peggiorare, to worsen.

Peggiorato, as a common Italian participle, appears across contexts describing deterioration, health changes, or shifts in condition, with grammatical forms adapting to gender and number as required.