uopo

Italian

Alternative forms

• huopo (obsolete)
• uo' (apocopic)

Etymology

From Latin opus, cognate with Old Spanish uebos, Romanian op.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈwɔ.po/
• Rhymes: -ɔpo
• Hyphenation: uò‧po

Noun

uopo m (plural uopi)

1. (archaic or literary, rare) need

   Synonyms: bisogno, necessità

   • 1763, Giuseppe Parini, “Il mattino [Morning]”, in Opere dell'abate Giuseppe Parini - Volume primo [Works of abbot Giuseppe Parini - Volume one]‎^[1], Venice: Giacomo Storti, published 1803, page 58:

     esso a mill'uopi ¶ Opportuno si vanta

     It is said it is suitable for a thousand needs

   • 1782, Vittorio Alfieri, “Atto quinto, Scena V”, in Saul, collected in Tragedie di Vittorio Alfieri - Volume secondo, Florence, published 1833, page 53:

     Eccoti solo, o re; non un ti resta ¶ Dei tanti amici, o servi tuoi. – Sei paga, ¶ D'inesorabil Dio terribil ira? – ¶ Ma, tu mi resti, o brando: all'ultim'uopo, ¶ Fido ministro, or vieni

     Here you stand alone, o king; not one is left to you of your many friends, or servants. Are you satisfied, o terrible wrath of an inexorable God? But you are left to me, o sword: in the last need, faithful servant, now come.

Usage notes

• The plural form is of literary usage, and very rare.

Derived terms

• all'uopo
• d'uopo
• essere uopo

References

• uopo in Treccani.it – Vocabolario Treccani on line, Istituto dell'Enciclopedia Italiana