riservare

Riservare is an Italian verb meaning to reserve, to set aside, or to allocate something for a specific person, group, or purpose. It can denote booking or holding in store a service, a place, or an item for future use, as well as withholding information or rights. In addition to literal reservations, riservare is used in figurative senses, such as reserving a right, a discretion, or a statement.

The verb is transitive and commonly appears with a direct object and a recipient, for example riservare qualcosa a qualcuno or riservare qualcosa per qualcuno. Typical constructions include ho riservato una camera, ho riservato due posti a sedere, or la compagnia si riserva il diritto di revocare l’offerta. The reflexive form, riservarsi, expresses preserving a right or keeping something for oneself, as in mi riservo di parlarne più tardi.

Etymology traces riservare to the Latin reservare, meaning to keep back or retain. In Italian, riservare is distinct from prenotare, which is more commonly used for booking arrangements such as a table or a room; riservare carries a nuance of holding something for a particular person, use, or future occasion, or of withholding a right or piece of information.

See also: riserva, riservatezza.