disprezza

Disprezza is the third-person singular present indicative form of the Italian verb disprezzare, meaning to despise or to scorn. It is used to describe an action carried out by a subject in the present time, as in sentences like "Lui disprezza le opinioni altrui." The related infinitive is disprezzare, and the noun form for the act or feeling is disprezzo, meaning disdain or contempt.

Etymology and form: disprezzare is built with the prefix dis- (a negation or reversal) added to prezzare, which in turn relates to prezzo, price. The sense develops from valuing something as if its price were low, thereby treating it with disdain. The verb conjugates regularly in many tenses: present (io disprezzo, tu disprezzi, lui/lei disprezza, noi disprezziamo, voi disprezzate, loro disprezzano); past tenses and the past participle include disprezzato and disprezzò in historical narration.

Usage and nuance: Disprezza is common in standard Italian and can appear in formal, literary, or journalistic contexts. It carries a strong negative connotation, indicating contempt or deeming something unworthy of consideration. In everyday speech speakers may opt for synonyms such as disdegnare or, in softer usage, non apprezzare.

Relation to related terms: The noun disprezzo denotes the feeling of disdain itself, while disprezzare is the action of feeling or expressing that disdain. The term should not be confused with similar-looking words in other languages, or with less common or archaic forms of the verb.

See also: disprezzo, disdegnare, disprezzare (infinitive).