Machiavelli

See also: machiavelli

English

Etymology

Probably from Italian 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.

Derived terms

• Machiavellism

Translations

Italian statesman and writer

• Armenian: Մաքիավելի (Makʻiaveli), Մակիավելլի (Makiavelli)
• Bulgarian: Макиаве́ли m (Makiavéli)
• French: Machiavel (fr) m
• Italian: Machiavelli
• Russian: Макиаве́лли (Makiavélli)

Noun

Machiavelli (plural Machiavellis)

1. Someone like Niccolò Machiavelli: a Machiavellian person

Related terms

• Machiavel