obbedì

Obbedì is the third-person singular form of the Italian verb obbedire in the passato remoto, the simple past tense used in formal writing and historical or literary contexts. As a single-word form, it translates to “he obeyed” (or “she obeyed”) and is typically found in narratives set in the past. In contemporary spoken Italian, speakers usually prefer the compound passato prossimo, as in ha obbedito, rather than the passato remoto.

Etymology and grammar: The verb obbedire comes from Latin oboedire, formed from ob- (“toward”) and audire (“to hear”). The form obbedì thus represents a stem change and the standard passato remoto ending for the third-person singular. The tense is part of a broader Italian verb system where the passato remoto is common in literature and formal writing, but is often avoided in everyday speech.

Usage and context: Obbedì is chiefly encountered in historical narratives, classic literature, or texts aiming to evoke a traditional or regional register. Because Italian usage has shifted toward the passato prossimo in spoken language, obbedì and other passato remoto forms tend to appear primarily in published works, poetry, or stylistic prose that seeks a sense of immediacy or antiquity. Standard language resources describe obbedire and its tenses within the broader conjugation patterns of -ire verbs.

See also: Obbedire, Passato Remoto, Italian grammar.