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mafioso

mafia-related

adjective mah-FYOH-zoh Rare

Origin: Sicilian dialect mafioso, of uncertain origin; possibly Arabic or pre-Roman.

Also means

mafioso (noun)

Usage Note

Mafioso as an adjective means 'relating to the mafia' (un'organizzazione mafiosa); as a noun it means a mafia member. The word entered English from Italian via Sicilian. In Italian it also has a figurative informal sense for anything organised in a shady, cartel-like way. Plural: mafiosi.

Examples

"Le attività mafiose vengono combattute dalla polizia."

Natural Translation

Mafia activities are fought by the police.

Literal Translation

The activities mafia-related are fought by the police.

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