The author examines some clusters of related intellectual words and their meanings in the three editions of the Scienza nuova (1725, 1730 and 1744) by Giambattista Vico. The main terms are: "filologia", "erudizione", "letteratura"/ "letterato"; "famiglia", "gente", "popolo", "nazione"; "ordine", "comune". "Forza", "violenza" and "frode"/"astuzia" are also analysed, in relation to the "De principatibus" and the criticism of Machiavelli's thought.