Machiavelli

See also: machiavelli

English

Etymology

Probably from mal- +‎ chiavello, in which the second component is a diminutive of chiavo (“nail”). The name is attested in a Late Latin document in the form Malclavelli.

Proper noun

Machiavelli

  1. Niccolò Machiavelli (1469-1527), Italian statesman and writer, whose work The Prince (1532) advises that acquiring and exercising power may require unethical methods.

Translations

Noun

Machiavelli (plural Machiavellis)

  1. Someone like Niccolò Machiavelli: a Machiavellian person

References
  • “Macchiavelli – Origine del Cognome”, in Cognomix‎ (in Italian), accessed 9 January 2019.
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