il sergente
sergeant
Si tratta di un grado militare che identifica una persona con il compito di comandare un piccolo gruppo di soldati.
Definition & meaning
A "sergente" is a non-commissioned officer rank in the military and certain police forces. In the Italian Armed Forces, specifically the Army and the Air Force, it is the entry-level rank of the "sergeants' role" (ruolo sergenti), positioned above a caporal maggiore and below a sergente maggiore . The primary duty of a sergeant is to act as a bridge between the troops and the higher-ranking officers, often leading small units or supervising specific technical tasks.
In a historical context, the term also referred to a servant of a knight or a low-level administrative officer who performed judicial duties, such as serving summons.
Grammar & Word origin
The word "sergente" is a masculine noun. Its plural form is "sergenti". In modern Italian, when the rank is held by a woman, it is referred to as "la sergente".
The term originates from the Latin "serviens," which is the present participle of the verb "servire" , meaning "to serve." In the Middle Ages, the "servientes" were armed men of non-noble birth who provided service to a lord or a military order. The word evolved through the Old French "sergent" before entering the Italian language.
Synonyms & antonyms
Synonyms:
- sottufficiale (a general term for non-commissioned officers)
- graduato (a person holding a military rank above a simple soldier)
Antonyms: In a military hierarchy, direct opposites are based on rank seniority:
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Examples
Il sergente parla con i soldati.noun
The sergeant talks with the soldiers.
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