Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /asˈsɛ.djo/
- Rhymes: -ɛdjo
- Hyphenation: as‧sè‧dio
Etymology 1
Deverbal from assediare (“to besiege”) + -o.
Noun
assedio m (plural assedi)
- (military) siege (military blockade or settlement)
- Synonym: (obsolete) assediamento
13th c., Bono Giamboni, “Con quanta cura si debbia accattare, e conservare l'annona, e la vivanda dell'oste. Cap. 3. [How carefully the army's provisions and food are to be collected and saved - Chapter 3]”, in Dell'arte della guerra [On the Art of War], translation of Epitoma Rei Militaris by Publius Flavius Vegetius Renatus, published 1815, page 82:Spesse volte interviene che la necessità si raddoppia, e l’assedio spesse volte più che non si pensa è lungo- It often happens that the needs double, and the siege is oftentimes longer than expected
1348, Giovanni Villani, “Libro terzo [Third Book]”, in Nuova Cronica [New Chronicle], published 1991, Ⅰ Come la città di Firenze fu distrutta per Totile Flagellum Dei re de’ Gotti e de’ Vandali.:E veggendo che per assedio no·lla potea avere, imperciò ch’era fortissima di torri, e di mura, e di molta buona gente, per inganno, e lusinghe, e tradimento s’ingegnò d’averla- And, seeing as he was unable to conquer it through siege, for it was very strong with towers, walls, and many capable people, he made an effort to have it through deceit, flattery, and betrayal
1478, Luigi Pulci, “Canto ventesimottavo [Canto 28]”, in Morgante, Felice Le Monnier, published 1855, section 89, page 422:E finalmente, dopo lungo tedio,
Le conquistò con forza e con assedio.- And finally, after long tedium, he conquered them through strength and siege.
1581, “Libro Ⅱ [Book 2]”, in Annibale Caro, transl., Eneide [Aeneid], Florence: Leonardo Ciardetti, translation of Aeneis by Virgil, published 1827, pages 86–87:Allor gridando indovinò Calcante
Che fuggir si dovesse, e tosto a’ venti
Spiegar le vele: chè di Troia in vano
Era l’assedio […]- Then Calchas, yelling, foresaw that they should flee, and immediately spread the sails to the winds, for the siege of Troy was in vain
1846, Claudio Dalmazzo, “Libro Ⅴ. [Book 5]”, in La prima deca di Tito Livio [Titus Livius' First Decade], translation of Ab Urbe Condita Libri by Livy, page 2:Ed avendo i comandatori maggiore speranza nell’assedio, che nel combattere, elli cominciaro non ch’altro, a fare tabernacoli e logge per dimorare quivi il verno- And the commanders, placing more hope in the siege than in fighting, began doing nothing but erecting tabernacles and lodges to inhabit during the winter
- (figurative) a formation of people aimed at restricting access to a place
- (figurative, by extension) scrum, throng
- Synonyms: calca, ressa
- (figurative) siege (prolonged assault or attack)
Etymology 2
See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form.
Further reading
- assedio in Treccani.it – Vocabolario Treccani on line, Istituto dell'Enciclopedia Italiana