trascorso

Trascorso is the past participle of trascorrere, used as an adjective meaning elapsed or spent, typically referring to time. It indicates that a period has already passed and is commonly used with nouns such as tempo, anni, or periodo. Common collocations include tempo trascorso, anni trascorsi, and periodo trascorso.

Etymology and meaning: the term derives from the Latin transcorrere, formed from trans- “across” and currere “to run.” The idea evolved from “to run across” to the broader sense of something that has passed or elapsed, especially with reference to time.

Usage and forms: trascorso agrees with the noun in gender and number. Forms include trascorso (masc. sing.), trascorsa (fem. sing.), trascorsi (masc. plur.), and trascorse (fem. plur.). In sentences, it can function as a predicative adjective, as in “Il tempo è trascorso,” or appear before or after the noun, as in “tempo trascorso” or “anni trascorsi.”

Examples: “Sono trascorsi molti anni dall’inizio del progetto.” “Il tempo trascorso insieme è stato prezioso.” These constructions illustrate the typical role of trascorso in signaling time that has already elapsed.

See also: trascorrere, tempo, periodo, elapse.