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From these 29 words, as many per round as you like — up to all of them: first what is due today, then new ones. First you choose, then you fill the gap, then you write it yourself. Mistakes come back again shortly.
More about this list The twentieth entry is l’araldo , and it is the odd one out in a list otherwise inherited from Rome. Almost everything around it — lo scudo , l’arma , la figura — is Latin stock. L’araldo is not. It reached Italian through Old French heraut , and that word rests on a Frankish compound of two Germanic elements: harja , an army, and wald , rule or power. The man in it is the one who has charge of the host. English took the very same Old French word and made « herald » of it, so the two are cousins by the shortest route there is. The second copy is the better story. Old English held the same compound in its own stock, Hereweald , and there it survived not as an office but as a name: « Harold ». An English reader therefore owns both halves of this entry already. It is worth noticing which way the vocabulary grew, too: l’araldica and araldico are built on the man, not on the shield. The herald announced and recorded; the rules came after him.
The words
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Phrase (1)
destra e sinistra araldiche dexter and sinister Phrase C2 Destra e sinistra araldiche si contano da dietro lo scudo. Dexter and sinister are counted from behind the shield.
Noun (f) (16)
Grammar for these: Definite article: il, lo, la · Indefinite article: un, uno
la blasonatura the blazon Noun (f) C2 La blasonatura descrive lo scudo con parole precise. The blazon describes the shield in exact words.
la regola degli smalti the rule of tincture Noun (f) C2 La regola degli smalti vieta metallo su metallo. The rule of tincture forbids metal on metal.
la pezza onorevole the honourable ordinary Noun (f) C2 Una pezza onorevole occupa una parte fissa del campo. An honourable ordinary takes up a fixed part of the field.
la linea di partizione the line of partition Noun (f) C2 La linea di partizione può essere dritta o dentellata. A line of partition may be straight or indented.
l’inquartatura the quartering Noun (f) C2 L’inquartatura riunisce quattro armi in uno scudo solo. Quartering brings four coats of arms together in a single shield.
la brisura the mark of cadency Noun (f) C2 La brisura distingue il figlio minore dal padre. A mark of cadency tells the younger son from the father.
la concessione d’arme the grant of arms Noun (f) C2 La concessione d’arme veniva messa per iscritto. A grant of arms used to be put in writing.
l’arma civica the civic arms Noun (f) C2 L’arma civica appare sui documenti della città. The civic arms appear on the town’s documents.
l’arma parlante the canting arms Noun (f) C2 Un’arma parlante gioca con il nome di chi la porta. Canting arms play on the name of the bearer.
la posizione della figura the attitude of the charge Noun (f) C2 La posizione della figura va detta nella descrizione. The attitude of the charge has to be stated in the description.
la matrice del sigillo the seal matrix Noun (f) C2 La matrice del sigillo si incideva in negativo. The seal matrix was cut in reverse.
la composizione delle armi the marshalling of arms Noun (f) C2 La composizione delle armi racconta un matrimonio o un’eredità. The marshalling of arms tells of a marriage or an inheritance.
la differenziazione delle armi the differencing of arms Noun (f) C2 La differenziazione delle armi evita che due rami si confondano. Differencing arms keeps two branches from being confused.
l’autorità araldica the heraldic authority Noun (f) C2 L’autorità araldica decide se una concessione è valida. The heraldic authority decides whether a grant is valid.
la prova genealogica the proof of descent Noun (f) C2 La prova genealogica collega chi chiede a chi ricevette l’arma. The proof of descent links the applicant to the man who received the arms.
l’arma inventata the invented arms Noun (f) C2 Un’arma inventata si riconosce dagli errori di regola. Invented arms give themselves away by breaking the rules.
Noun (m) (12)
Grammar for these: Definite article: il, lo, la · Indefinite article: un, uno
lo scudo araldico the heraldic shield Noun (m) C2 Lo scudo araldico cambia forma da un secolo all’altro. The heraldic shield changes shape from one century to the next.
lo smalto araldico the heraldic tincture Noun (m) C2 Ogni smalto araldico ha un nome antico. Every heraldic tincture has an old name.
il partito d’alleanza the impalement Noun (m) C2 Il partito d’alleanza mette due famiglie fianco a fianco. Impalement sets two families side by side.
il lambrecchino the mantling Noun (m) C2 Il lambrecchino scende dall’elmo come un drappo tagliato. The mantling hangs from the helm like a slashed cloth.
il motto araldico the heraldic motto Noun (m) C2 Il motto araldico corre su un nastro sotto lo scudo. The heraldic motto runs on a scroll beneath the shield.
il diritto di portare arme the right to bear arms Noun (m) C2 Il diritto di portare arme non è lo stesso in ogni paese. The right to bear arms is not the same in every country.
l’armoriale the armorial Noun (m) C2 L’armoriale raccoglie centinaia di scudi in un volume. An armorial gathers hundreds of shields into one volume.
l’araldo the herald Noun (m) C2 L’araldo annunciava e registrava le armi. The herald proclaimed the arms and recorded them.
l’aumento d’onore the augmentation of honour Noun (m) C2 L’aumento d’onore ricorda un servizio reso. An augmentation of honour recalls a service rendered.
il disegno delle bandiere the design of flags Noun (m) C2 Il disegno delle bandiere segue regole più libere. The design of flags follows looser rules.
lo stemma comunale the municipal coat of arms Noun (m) C2 Lo stemma comunale sta sul gonfalone. The municipal coat of arms is carried on the banner.
il pittore araldico the heraldic painter Noun (m) C2 Il pittore araldico lavora sulla descrizione e non su una copia. The heraldic painter works from the description and not from a copy.
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