from pp.45-46

874 sindaco mayor. 1251 sindacale of trade union or labor union. 1466 sindacato trade union, labor union. From Latin syndicus (“representative of a corporation”). Cognate with syndicate (“a group of individuals or organizations combined to promote a common interest”), syndic (“a government official in some countries”; “a business agent of some universities in the UK”). Unless you know English syndic, note that sindaco denotes a single person while sindacato an organization.

875 coloro those (who). From Latin *eccum illorum (“behold them”). Doublet with quello. Unlike loro (“they”), this word is often followed by che and is better translated as “those who” than “they who”. Not to be confused with the unrelated con loro (“with them”). Example, coloro che ... (“those who ...”, quelli che ...).

876 comporre to compose (music etc.); to dial (phone); to make, to form. From Latin componere (“to compose”). Cognate with compose, Spanish componer (“to compose”). Note the second and third meanings. Examples, comporre il numero 1-800 (“to dial the 1-800 number”); è composto da 5 pezzi (“it is composed of 5 pieces”; composto is the past participle). See also porre (“to put”).

880 reale real, actual, vero; royal. In the first sense, from Latin realis (“real”); cognate with real, Spanish real and French réel (“real”). In the second sense, from Latin regalis (“regal”) by way of Old French; cognate with royal, regal, Spanish rey, real, and French roi (“king”). Indeed in Spanish (as well as Portuguese), the same word form, real, can mean either “real” or “royal”, just as in Italian. If you’re a soccer (football outside of the US) fan, you sure have heard of Real Madrid, literally “Royal Madrid” in Spanish. If Italian reale still doesn’t make you think of “royal” in the context where it should, try a mnemonic such as “artworks owned by the royal family are all real (authentic)”. Example, palazzo reale (“royal palace”).

890 prestazione (sports team, machine) performance; services. 1471 prestare to loan, to lend, to render. 2490 prestito loan (n.). From Latin praestare (“to provide”, “to offer”), literally “pre-” + “stand” or “to stand in front”, implying “to bestow”, “to give”, “to lend”. Cognate with Spanish prestar and French prêter (“to lend”). The meaning “performance” of prestazione comes from “rendering”. Examples, la squadra di calcio ha fatto una grande prestazione (“the football team had a great performance”); prestazioni sanitarie (“healthcare services”); prestazioni sociali (“social benefits”); prestare denaro dalla banca (“to loan money from the bank”).

892 accettare to accept; to agree (to). Note the second meaning. Think of it as accepting a suggestion or request. Example, accettare di fare ... (“to agree to do ...”).

893 seduta sitting; meeting session. 1787 sedere to sit. From Latin sedere (“to sit”). Cognate with Spanish sentar (“to seat”, “to sit” if reflexive), with English sedentary, sediment, and if traced to Proto-Indo-European, with sit. Unrelated to English seduce, seduction (which would be sedurre, seduzione in Italian). Examples, un posto a sedere (“a seat / place to sit”); una seduta da uno psicoterapeuta (“a session with a psychotherapist”).

894 condurre to lead, to guide, to bring or take; to conduct, to drive. Examples, condurre il bambino a scuola  (“to take the child to school”); condurre alla vittoria (“to lead to victory”); condurre / guidare un’auto / una macchina (“to drive a car”; guidare is more common);. See also guidare.

895 allegato attachment, enclosure. 2033 allegare to attach, to enclose. From Latin alligare (“to bind”). Cognate with ally, alloy, Spanish aliar and French allier (“to ally”). Imagine the email attachment of an email is like a chemical composition in a piece of alloy. Completely unrelated to alligator. But if you prefer a mnemonic to etymology, imagine an alligator bound by a rope. Example, un allegato all’e-mail (“an attachment to the email”).

897 iscrivere to register, to enroll, to enter; to inscribe. From Latin inscribere (“to inscribe”). Cognate with inscribe, Spanish inscribir. Imagine you inscribe your name on the registration form when you sign up for some activity. Example, iscriversi ad un college (“to enroll (oneself) in a college”). See also scrivere (“to write”).