crebbe

Crebbe is the Italian verb crescere in the passato remoto, meaning “he grew” or “she grew” in English. It is the third-person singular form used mainly in narrative and formal writing. In contemporary speech and writing, speakers typically prefer the compound passato prossimo, è cresciuto or sono cresciuti, to express completed past actions. The passato remoto forms vary by person; crebbe is the singular form, while crebbero is the plural.

Usage and context: Crebbe commonly appears in historical chronicles, novels, and poetry to convey events set in the distant past or to lend a classical tone. It is part of standard Italian and may be found in literary works and formal historical texts, though in everyday language the passato prossimo is more common.

Etymology and meaning: The form comes from the verb crescere, which derives from Latin crescere, meaning to grow. The basic sense—growth, increase, or expansion—remains stable across uses, including references to population, size, or stature.

Examples:

- Nel X secolo, il villaggio crebbe rapidamente grazie alle nuove rotte commerciali.

- La popolazione crebbe di anno in anno.

See also: crescere, crescita, passato remoto.