Chapter 17 - Past forms of the verbs
The past forms of verbs are those such as arrived, baked, cooked, eaten, spoken, and so on. In English, the past forms are usually made by adding an ending to the root verb.
For example, -en is added to eat, and -ed is added to talk. Some of the forms are irregular, such as sunk (from sink).
Past forms are used with the verbs to be or to have to make the compound verb forms (such as are used, have gone and so on), and they are also used as adjectives.
We say the spoken word, the cooked meat, and so on. A similar situation exists in Italian.
Group 1 verbs
Most of the past forms of the verbs in group 1 are made by adding the ending -atoto the stem.
examples: andare, to go andato, gone chiamare, to call chiamato, called
giocare, to play giocato, played parlare, to speak parlato, spoken
The verb fare, and its compounds, have a past form ending in -atto.
Like fare: |
assuefare, to accustom, inure |
contraffare, to counterfeit |
disassuefare, to give up a habit |
disfare, to undo |
liquefare, to liquify |
putrefare, to putrify |
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rarefare, to rarefy |
rifare, to do over, repeat |
sfare, to undo, to thaw, melt |
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soddisfare, to satisfy |
soprafare, to overwhelm |
strafare, to do too much, overdo |
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stupefare, to stupefy |
torrefare, to roast |
tumefare, to swell |
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In group 1, there are no other irregular verbs.
Group 3 verbs
In group 3, the regular past forms are made by adding the ending -ito to the stem.
examples: finire, to finish finito, finished partire, to part partito, parted
In group 3, the following verbs and their compounds have irregular past forms.
apparire, to appear; |
past form = apparso |
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Like apparire: |
comparire, to show oneself |
riapparire, to reappear |
ricomparire, to show up again; to turn up |
scomparire, to disappear |
sparire, to vanish |
trasparire, to shine or show through |
aprire, to open; |
past form = aperto |
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Like aprire: |
coprire, to cover |
disasprire, to mollify |
inasprire, to embitter |
riaprire, to reopen |
ricoprire, to cover again |
riscoprire, to rediscover |
scoprire, to uncover |
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dire, to say; |
past form = detto |
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Like dire: |
benedire, to bless |
contradire, to contradict |
disdire, to retract |
interdire, to interdict, prohibit |
maledire, to curse |
predire, to predict |
ridire, to repeat |
ribenedire, to bless again |
morire, to die; |
past form = morto |
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Like morire: |
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premorire, to die before; to predecease |
smorire, to look pale |
offrire, to offer; |
past form = offerto |
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Like offrire: |
rioffrire, to reoffer |
soffrire, to suffer |
venire, to come; |
past form = venuto |
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Like venire: |
addivenire, to come to |
avvenire, to happen |
circonvenire, to circumvent |
contravenire, to contravene |
convenire, to convene |
divenire, to become |
intervenire, to intervene |
pervenire, to reach |
prevenire, to prevent |
riconvenire, to reconvene |
ridivenire, to become again |
rinvenire, to rediscover, recover |
risoveniresi, to recollect |
rivenire, to come back |
sconvenire, to be unbecoming |
sovvenire, to help |
svenire, to faint |
note: The verbs disseppellire(to exhume), riseppellire(to rebury), and seppellire(to bury) have both regular (~lito) and irregular forms (~polto).
Although they belong to group 2, all of the verbs which end in -ịstere have past forms using -ito as the ending. The complete list of such verbs follows.
assịstere, to be present; assistito |
coesịstere, to coexist; coesistito |
consịstere, to consist; consistito |
desịstere, to desist; desistito |
esịstere, to exist; esistito |
insịstere, to insist; insistito |
persịstere, to persist; persistito |
preesịstere, to preexist; preesistito |
resịstere, to resist; resistito |
sussịstere, to subsist; sussistito |
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Group 2 verbs
In group 2, most of the verbs have regular forms which are made by adding -uto to the stem.
examples: cadere, to fall caduto, fallen vẹndere, to sell venduto, sold
With two exceptions (nạscereand rinạscere), if the verb ends in -cere, the ending -iuto is used to maintain the soft sound of the letter c. example: giacere, to lie down giaciuto
[The past forms of nascere and rinascere are nato and rinato.]
Some past forms follow patterns set by a root verb. These patterns follow.
When the simple past tense is formed by using the endings -si or -ssi, the past form is made by using the stem of the simple past tense.
Verbs with the endings -si and -ssi separate easily into two subgroups. These are characterized by a stress on the stem.
Subgroup 1 - verbs which end in -si in the simple past tense
The past forms of some group 2 verbs which have a stress on the stem (such as accẹndere, where the
stem is accẹnd-) have irregular past forms which are made from the first person singular (the “I”
form) of the simple past tense. Using the verb accẹndere (to light) as an example, the first person
singular of the simple past tense is accesi. The past form is made by dropping the ending -i, and
adding -o. Thus, the past form is acceso. The shortened stems of the simple past tense are shown in
bold type.
One exception: propẹndere, to be inclined = propenso
ạrdere, to burn |
past form = arso |
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Like ạrdere: |
riạrdere, to burn again |
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accẹndere, to ignite |
past form = acceso |
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Like accẹndere: |
accondiscẹndere, to acquiesce |
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appẹndere, to append |
apprẹndere, to learn |
ascẹndere, to ascend |
attẹndere, to wait |
comprẹndere, to comprehend |
condiscẹndere, to condescend |
contẹndere, to contend |
difẹndere, to defend |
dipẹndere, to depend |
disattẹndere, to disregard |
discẹndere, to descend |
distẹndere, to distend |
estẹndere, to extend |
fraintẹndere, to misunderstand, misinterpret |
intẹndere, to intend |
intraprẹndere, to undertake |
offẹndere, to offend |
prẹndere, to take, to catch |
pretẹndere, to pretend |
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protẹndere, to hold or stretch out |
rapprẹndere, to congeal |
rẹndere, to give back, return |
riaccẹndere, to light again |
riappẹndere, to hang up again |
riapprẹndere, to re-learn |
ridiscẹndere, to redescend |
riprẹndere, to take again |
scẹndere, to go down |
soprintẹndere, to supervise |
sorprẹndere, to surprise |
sospẹndere, to suspend |
sottintęndere, to imply, drive at |
spẹndere, to spend |
stẹndere, to stretch out |
tẹndere, to stretch, tighten |
trascẹndere, to transcend |
vilipẹndere, to vilify, revile, to defame |
arrịdere, to smile upon |
past form = arriso |
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Like arrịdere: |
assịdersi, to sit down |
circoncịdere, to circumcise |
coincịdere, to coincide |
collịdere, to collide |
condivịdere, to share |
decịdere, to decide |
derịdere, to deride, mock |
divịdere, to divide |
elịdere, to elide |
incịdere, to cut into, incise |
intrịdere, to mix |
irrịdere, to deride, to mock |
rịdere, to laugh |
ridivịdere, to redivide |
sorrịdere, to smile, to grin |
strịdere, to screech |
suddivịdere, to subdivide |
uccịdere. to kill |
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acclụdere, to include |
past form = accluso |
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Like acclụdere: |
allụdere, to allude |
chiụdere, to close |
collụdere, to collude |
conclụdere, to conclude |
delụdere, to delude |
dischiụdere, to disclose |
disillụdere, to disillusion |
elụdere, to elude |
esclụdere, to exclude |
estrụdere, to extrude |
illụdere, to deceive |
inclụdere, to include |
intrụdere, to intrude |
occlụdere, to occlude |
preclụdere, to preclude |
prelụdere, to be a sign, presage |
protrụdere, to protrude |
prụdere, to itch, be itchy |
racchiụdere, to contain, hold |
reclụdere, to be reclusive |
richiụdere, to close again |
rinchiụdere, to shut or lock up |
schiụdere, to unlock |
socchiụdere, to half-close |
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aspẹrgere, to sprinkle |
past form = asperso |
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Like aspẹrgere: |
astẹrgere, to wipe away, cleanse |
convẹrgere, to converge |
detẹrgere, to cleanse, wash |
dispẹrdere, to disperse |
divẹrgere, to diverge |
emẹrgere, to emerge |
immẹrgere, to immerse |
pẹrdere, to lose |
riemẹrgere, to re-emerge |
sommẹrgere, to submerge |
tẹrgere, to wipe off or away |
cọrrere, to run |
past form = corso |
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Like cọrrere |
decọrrere, to elapse |
discọrrere, to talk about |
incọrrere, to incur |
intercọrrere, to elapse |
occọrrere, to occur |
precọrrere, to precede |
trascọrrere, to pass or spend time |
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evạdere, to evade |
past form = evaso |
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Like evạdere: |
dissuạdere, to dissuade |
invạdere, to invade |
persuạdere, to persuade |
rạdere, to shave |
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contụndere, to bruise |
past form = contuso |
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cospạrgere, to sprinkle |
past form = cosparso |
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eccẹllere, to excel |
past form = eccelso |
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espẹllere, to expel |
past form = espulso |
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Like espẹllere: |
repẹllere, to repel |
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esplǫdere, to explode |
past form = esploso |
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Like esplǫdere: |
corrọdere, to corrode |
erọdere, to erode |
implǫdere, to implode |
riesplǫdere, to explode again |
rọdere, to gnaw |
fọndere, to fuse, smelt |
past form = fuso |
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Like fọndere: |
circonfọndere, to surround |
confọndere, to confuse |
diffọndere, to diffuse |
effọndere, to pour out, effuse |
infọndere, to infuse |
profọndere, to lavish |
soffọndere, to suffuse |
trasfọndere, to transfuse |
mǫrdere, to bite |
past form = morso |
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Like mǫrdere: |
demǫrdere, to give up, quit |
rimǫrdere, to bite again or back |
spạrgere, to scatter, strew |
past form = sparso |
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In this group, some past forms are made by dropping the ending -si and adding -to to the stem of the first person singular of the simple past tense.
For example, the verb is accǫrgere, the first person singular of the simple past tense is accorsi, the ending -siis dropped and -to is added, making accorto.
The shortened stems of the simple past tense are shown in bold type.
the following verbs also belong to this group.
accǫrgersi, to perceive |
aggiụngere, to add |
assụrgere, to rise |
attịngere, to attain |
attǫrcere, to twist |
avvịncere, to charm |
avvǫlgere, to wrap, wrap up |
capovǫlgere, to overturn |
cịngere, to gird |
coinvǫlgere, to involve |
convịncere to convince |
convịncersi, to convince oneself |
dipịngere, to depict |
disgiụngere, to disjoin, to sever |
dissǫlvere, to dissolve |
distịnguere, to distinguish |
distǫrcere, to distort |
divẹllere, to uproot |
ẹrgere, to raise, lift up |
estịnguere, to extinguish |
evịncere, to infer |
fịngere, to feign |
frạngere, to break, smash |
fụngere, to act as someone |
giụngere, to arrive |
indụlgere, to indulge |
infrạngere, to infringe |
insǫrgere, to rebel, revolt |
mụngere, to milk |
piạngere, to weep |
pǫrgere, to offer |
pụngere, to prick |
ricongiụngere, to rejoin |
risǫlvere, to resolve |
risǫrgere, to rise again |
sọrgere, to rise |
spạndere, to spread |
spịngere, to push |
spǫrgere, to stick out |
stravịncere, to trounce, crush |
svẹllere, to tear out |
tịngere, to tint, dye |
tǫrcere, to twist |
ụngere, to oil, grease |
vịncere, to win |
vǫlgere, to turn |
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assụmere, to assume |
past form = assunto |
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Like assụmere: |
consụmere, to consume |
desụmere, to deduce, infer, gather |
presụmere, to presume |
riassụmere, to resume |
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cǫgliere, to gather |
past form = colto |
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Like cǫgliere |
accǫgliere, to welcome |
disciǫgliere, to dissolve |
distǫgliere, to withdraw |
riaccǫgliere, to readmit someone |
ritǫgliere, to take away again |
scẹgliere, to choose |
sciǫgliere, to untie, to loosen |
tǫgliere, to take away |
pọrre, to put |
past form = pọsto |
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Like pọrre: |
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antepọrre, to place or put before |
appọrre, to append |
compọrre, to compose |
contrappọrre, to contrast |
contropropọrre, to counteroffer |
decompọrre, to decompose |
depọrre, to put, set, lay down |
dispọrre, to dispose |
espọrre, to expose |
fotocompọrre, to photocompose |
frappọrre, to interpose |
giustappọrre, to juxtapose |
impọrre, to impose |
indispọrre, to irritate; to annoy |
interpọrre, to interpose |
oppọrre, to oppose |
pospọrre, to postpone |
predispọrre, to predispose |
prepọrre, to place before |
presuppọrre, to presuppose |
propọrre, to propose |
ricompọrre, to recompose |
ridispọrre, to rearrange |
riespọrre, to exhibit, display, expose |
ripọrre, to replace |
ripropọrre, to repropose |
scompọrre, to take apart, dismantle |
sottoespọrre, to underexpose |
sottopọrre, to place underneath |
sovraespọrre, to overexpose |
sovrappọrre, to superimpose |
sovrimpọrre, to overlay |
suppọrre, to suppose |
traspọrre, to transpose |
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redịmere, to redeem |
past form = redento |
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spẹgnere, to put out |
past form = spento |
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Subgroup 2 - verbs which end in -ssi in the simple past tense
Like accẹndere, the verbs in this subgroup have a stress on the stem. The past forms
are made from the first person singular of the simple past tense. Using affịggere as an example,
the first person singular of the simple past tense is affissi. The past form is made by dropping the
last letter, -i, and adding -o. Thus, the past form is affisso. Compound of the root verb have the
same irregularities as the root verb. Some of the compound verbs are listed here. The shortened
stems of the simple past tense are shown in bold type.
affịggere, to affix |
past form = affisso |
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Like affịggere: |
annẹttere, to annex |
circonflẹttere, to bend around |
concẹdere, to concede |
connẹttere, to connect |
deflẹttere, to deflect |
discụtere, to discuss |
rescịndere, to rescind |
riflẹttere, to reflect |
scịndere, to separate |
sconnẹttere, to disconnect |
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The following verbs also belong to this group.
imprịmere, to impress |
past form = impresso (from the simple past tense impressi) |
Like imprịmere: |
comprịmere, to compress |
decomprịmere, to decompress |
deprịmere, to depress |
esprịmere, to express |
opprịmere, to oppress |
In this group, some past forms are made by adding the ending -tto to the stem of the first person singular of the simple past tense.
For example, fịggere, fissi, fitto; scrịvere, scrissi, scritto. The shortened stems of the simple past tense are shown in bold type.
The following verbs also belong to this group.
corrẹggere, to correct |
past form = corretto (from the simple past tense corressi) |
Like corrẹggere: |
elęggere, to elect |
lęggere, to read |
rẹggere, to hold |
ricorrẹggere, to correct again |
rielęggere, to reelect |
rilęggere, to read again, reread |
sorrẹggere, to uphold, support |
sprotẹggere, to unprotect |
cuǫcere, to cook |
past form = cotto (from the simple past tense cossi) |
Like cuǫcere: |
percuǫtere, to strike |
ricuǫcere, to recook |
riscuǫtere, to draw a salary |
scuǫcere, to overcook |
scuǫtere, to shake |
stracuǫcere, to overdo |
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dirịgere, to direct |
past form = diretto (from the simple past tense diressi) |
Like dirịgere: |
erịgere, to erect (eretto) |
neglịgere, to neglect (negletto) |
fịggere, to fix |
past form = fitto (from the simple past tense fissi) |
Like fịggere: |
affịggere, to affix |
afflịggere, to afflict |
confịggere, to nail |
conflịggere, to conflict |
crocifịggere, to crucify |
distrụggere, to destroy |
frịggere, to fry |
infịggere, to drive, thrust |
inflịggere, to inflict |
prefịggere, to arrange in advance |
rifrịggere, to refry |
sconfịggere, to defeat, vanquish |
sfrịggere, to sizzle |
soffrịggere, to fry slowly, brown |
strụggere, to melt, thaw |
trafịggere, to transfigure |
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scrịvere, to write |
past form = scritto (from the simple past tense scrissi) |
Like scrịvere: |
ascrịvere, to ascribe |
circoscrịvere, to circumscribe |
coscrịvere, to conscript |
descrịvere, to describe |
inscrịvere, to inscribe |
iscrịvere, to enroll |
prescrịvere, to prescribe |
proscrịvere, to proscribe |
reinscrịvere, to reenter |
riscrịvere, to rewrite |
sottoscrịvere, to underwrite |
sovrascrịvere, to overwrite |
trascrịvere, to transcribe |
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trarre, to draw |
past form = tratto (from the simple past tense trassi) |
Like trarre: |
astrarre, to abstract |
attrarre, to attract |
contrarre, to contract |
decontrarre, to relax |
detrarre, to detract |
distrarre, to distract |
estrarre, to extract |
protrarre, to protract |
ritrarre, to retract |
sottrarre, to subtract |
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addurre, to adduce |
past form = adotto (from the simple past tense addussi) |
Like addurre: |
circondurre, to lead around |
condurre, to conduct |
dedurre, to deduce |
indurre, to induce |
introdurre, to introduce |
produrre, to produce |
reintrodurre, to reintroduce |
ricondurre, to bring, take again |
ridurre, to reduce |
riprodurre, to reproduce |
ritradurre, to retranslate |
sedurre, to seduce |
tradurre, to translate |
trasdurre, to transduce |
esịgere, to demand |
past form = esatto |
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redịgere, to edit |
past form = redatto |
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rifrạngere, to refract |
past form = rifratto |
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Some of the forms are irregular.
chiẹdere, to ask |
past form = chiesto |
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corrispọndere, to correspond |
past form = corrispọsto |
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costrịngere, to compel |
past form = costretto |
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mẹttere, to place, put |
past form = messo |
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Like mẹttere: |
ammẹttere, to admit |
ammẹttere, to admit, to let in |
annẹttere, to annex |
commẹttere, to commit |
compromẹttere, to compromise |
connẹttere, to connect |
dimẹttere, to discharge |
dismẹttere, to discard |
emẹttere, to emit |
estromẹttere, to exclude, to oust |
frammẹttere, to insert |
immẹttere, to put in |
inframmẹttere, to interpose |
inframmettersi, to interfere, to meddle |
interconnẹttere, to interconnect |
intromẹttere, to insert |
intromettersi, to intervene |
manomẹttere, to tamper with |
omẹttere, to omit |
permẹttere, to permit |
premẹttere, to state first |
promẹttere, to promise |
radiotrasmẹttere, to broadcast, to radio. |
riammẹttere, to readmit |
ricetrasmẹttere, to transmit and receive. |
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ricommẹttere, to commit again |
riemẹttere, to re-issue |
rimẹttere, to remit |
ripromẹttere, to promise again |
ritrasmẹttere, to rebroadcast |
scommẹttere, to disconnect, to wager |
smẹttere, to stop, to quit |
sottomẹttere, to subjugate |
teleradiotrasmẹttere, to simulcast |
trasmẹttere, to pass on or down |
videotrasmẹttere, to broadcast on television; to telecast |
nạscere, to be born |
past form = nato |
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nascọndere, to conceal, hide |
past form = nascọsto |
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parere, to seem |
past form = parso |
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rinạscere, to be reborn |
past form = rinato |
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rispọndere, to respond |
past form = rispọsto |
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solere, to be in the habit of |
past form = sǫlito |
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strịngere, to clasp, clutch |
past form = stretto |
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vedere, to see |
past form = visto |
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Like vedere: |
antivedere, to foresee |
intravedere, to glimpse |
prevedere, to see ahead |
provedere, to provide, look after |
rivedere, to see again |
stravedere, to see things, hallucinate |
travedere, to be misled |
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vịvere, to live |
past form = vissuto |
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Like vịvere: |
rivịvere, to relive, live again, revive |
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