Most Italian adjectives have more than one possible meaning and some of them can be used in completely different contexts and situations. “Morbid” falls into this category.
As you may have already imagined, today's adjective comes from the word “morbid“, which is generally used to indicate any type of highly infectious and potentially lethal contagious disease (cholera, plague, etc.).
Thus, in its primary meaning, “morbid” describes anything related to or caused by a contagious disease. As such, it is usually translated into Portuguese as “contagious” or “infectious”.
“Questi som i symptomi di una malattia morbosa.”
“These are the symptoms of an infectious disease.”
But “morbid” is rarely used in this way outside of the medical field, and even then, some native speakers may perceive the word as being too formal or somewhat archaic.
The adjective is much more popular in common conversation when given its secondary and, so to speak, less literal meaning.
The Italians use “morbid” to refer to any emotion, feeling, or behavior considered excessive, especially in a way that could be seen as harmful.
Eg
“Marco ha sviluppato una morbosa ossessione nei confronti di lei.”
“Marco has developed an unhealthy obsession with her.”
In this case, the Italian adjective can be translated into Portuguese as “sick”, “irrational”, “disproportionate” or, sometimes, even “morbid”.
But whereas the Portuguese “morbid” refers only to an excessive and unnatural interest in disturbing or unpleasant things, especially death, the Italian “morbid” has a much broader scope, as it potentially refers to any exaggerated feeling or behavior , even a positive one.
“There is a morbid affection for the mother.”
“He has an irrational amount of affection for his mother.”
Finally, and this is perhaps the most common use of the adjective these days, “morbid” is also used to indicate people, and especially romantic partners, who are unbearably clingy.
Thus, a “morbid” person is someone who, for whatever reason, tends to be excessively attached to another person, depending emotionally or in some other way on them.
When used in the above sense, the adjective can also be used in a humorous way:
“Vedi che sei morboso?”
“Don’t you realize you’re being clingy?”
“But how morbid? Cosa stai dicendo?”
“Sticky how? What are you talking about?”
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