galateo

Italian

FWOTD – 19 January 2019

Etymology

From Il Galateo, a treatise on good manners by Giovanni della Casa (1503–56) named after the bishop of Sessa Aurunca Galeazzo Florimonte (1484–1565). The name Galeazzo, and its Latinized form Galatheus are cognate with English Galahad.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ɡa.laˈtɛ.o/
• Rhymes: -ɛo
• Hyphenation: ga‧la‧tè‧o

Noun

galateo m (plural galatei)

1. (chiefly uncountable) etiquette, good manners

   Synonyms: etichetta, buone maniere, bon ton

   • 2015, Dane Chandos, Abbie‎^[1], translated by Daniela Pezzella and Monica Pezzella, page 9:

     «L’infermiera mi ha detto di rispettare sempre il galateo inglese» replicai dubbioso. «Idiozie! Il galateo che va bene a casa va bene per tutti. E se il tuo galateo non va bene per tutti, questi ultimi non vanno bene per la casa».

     "The nurse told me to always observe British etiquette", I replied doubtingly. "Rubbish! Good etiquette for the house is good for everybody. And, if your etiquette is not good for everybody, then they are not good for the house."

Further reading

• galateo on the Italian Wikipedia.Wikipedia ^it