-igno

Forms

-igno (adjective-forming suffix, feminine -igna, masculine plural -igni, feminine plural -igne)^[1]

Etymology

It is inherited from Latin -ĭneus, an adjective-forming suffix.^[2][3][4][1] Sabatini–Coletti, Zingarelli, Treccani and Gabrielli derive it from -ĭgnus as well, and De Mauro thinks that this ending probably merged with the first.^{[5][6][4][7][8]} Wiktionary also calls the suffix a confluence of the two, and compares Sicilian -ignu.^[1]

Zingarelli traces the second ending to the root ⟨gen-⟩ of gignō (“to beget, be born”), so that it first meant “producing, generating”.^[6]

Semantic evolution

In inherited and learned adjectives such as benigno, ferrigno and sanguigno the suffix expresses relation or likeness to the noun it is added to.^[2][3][8] Added to adjectives, it became a suffix of approximation that softens the quality or makes it slightly pejorative, as in asprigno “sourish”, dolcigno and rossigno “reddish”.^[5][6][4]

With kinship terms it marks a relative by law rather than by blood: patrigno “stepfather”, matrigna “stepmother”.^[8] Combined with -olo it forms nouns in which the old diminutive value is hardly felt any longer, such as comignolo, lucignolo and nomignolo.^[4]

Meanings

Suffix

1. Forms adjectives from nouns, expressing relation or resemblance: ferrigno, sanguigno, caprigno, volpigno.^[2][3][8][4]
2. Added to adjectives, expresses an approximate or weakened quality, sometimes pejorative, like English -ish: asprigno, dolcigno, rossigno.^[5][6][4][1]
3. With kinship terms, marks a relationship by marriage: patrigno, matrigna.^[8]

Word family

• benigno
• ferrigno
• sanguigno
• asprigno
• dolcigno
• rossigno
• patrigno
• matrigna
• comignolo
• nomignolo

Related words

• Latin -ineus

References

1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c Nocentini, Alberto; Parenti, Alessandro (2010), l'Etimologico: vocabolario della lingua italiana, Firenze: Le Monnier
3. ^ a b c Devoto, Giacomo; Oli, Gian Carlo; Serianni, Luca; Trifone, Maurizio (2026), Nuovo Devoto–Oli: il vocabolario dell'italiano contemporaneo, digital ed., Milano: Le Monnier
4. ^ a b c d e f Duro, Aldo (ed.) (1986–1994), Vocabolario della lingua italiana, Roma: Istituto della Enciclopedia Italiana; online ed. treccani.it/vocabolario (2008 copy)
5. ^ a b c Sabatini, Francesco; Coletti, Vittorio; Manfredini, Manuela (2026), Dizionario italiano Sabatini Coletti, digital ed., Milano: Sansoni / Rizzoli Larousse
6. ^ a b c d Zingarelli, Nicola (2009), Lo Zingarelli 2010: vocabolario della lingua italiana, Bologna: Zanichelli
7. ^ Gabrielli, Aldo (2020), Grande dizionario italiano, digital ed., Milano: Hoepli
8. ^ a b c d e De Mauro, Tullio, Il Nuovo De Mauro, online ed., dizionario.internazionale.it