privilegiò

Privilegiò is the third-person singular form in the passato remoto of the Italian verb that means to privilege or to grant privileges. It appears in literary or historical prose and is not common in everyday speech, where the passato prossimo (ha privilegiato) is usually preferred. The form denotes a past action completed at a point in the past, typically within narrative or formal texts.

Etymology and meaning

The verb derives from the noun privilegio (privilege), which itself comes from a Latin source meaning a private right or exemption. The term conveys the act of granting special advantages, exemptions, or favorable treatment to someone or a group.

Usage and register

Privilegiò is primarily encountered in historical chronicles, classical literature, or juridical documents written in a traditional style. In contemporary Italian, speakers generally use the compound passato prossimo ha privilegiato or other periphrastic constructions to express the same idea. The passato remoto, including privilegiò, can convey distance, formality, or antiquity.

Examples

- Il re privilegiò i nobili con esenzioni fiscali. (The king privileged the nobles with tax exemptions.)

- Nei documenti medievali, l'autorità privilegiò alcune corporazioni rispetto alle altre.

Notes

Be careful not to confuse the verb form with the noun privilegio or with other tenses of verbs meaning to privilege. The accent on the final syllable (privilegiò) marks stress and helps distinguish it from present or imperfect forms in written Italian.