appunto

appunto¹ note

Pronunciation

• /apˈpun.to/^[1]

Forms

appunto m (plural appunti)^[1]

Etymology

The noun meaning “note” is formed from the verb appuntare “to note down”.^[2][3][4][1] That verb is made from punto “point, dot” with the prefix a-, and was originally “to mark with a dot”.^[2][4][1] The sense “reproach” comes from the old use of puntare and of this verb for putting a dot beside the name of someone who had committed a fault, as T. Bolelli showed in 1941.^[2] Nocentini explains it by the old practice of noting down those absent without leave.^[3]

The word for “point” comes from Latin punctum (“a prick, point”), from pungō (“to prick”).^[1]

Earliest recorded meaning

DELI's first record is in the Bandi leopoldini of 1779, for a short written note.^[2][4][3] The verb appuntare “to note down” is older, from a statute of the Florentine cloth merchants of 1332–1337.^[2]

Semantic evolution

The sense “note of blame, reproach” is recorded in Tommaseo's dictionary in 1865.^[2] Manzoni uses the plural for notes taken by a lawyer for a defence, and Collodi for jottings taken with a pencil.^[5] Commerce used appunto for an account and, in banking, for a bill;^[6][7][4] Sabatini–Coletti mark this as dated.^[6][7][4] Computing has given the plural appunti the sense “clipboard”.^[8][6][1]

Timeline

• 1332–1337 – The verb appuntare “to note down” appears in a Florentine statute.^[2]
• 1779 – Appunto “note” is recorded in the Bandi leopoldini.^[2]
• 1865 – Tommaseo records the sense “reproach”.^[2]

Meanings

Noun

1. A note, a brief written record made to help the memory: Durante la riunione ho preso qualche appunto sul quaderno.^[4][8][6]
2. (usually plural) Notes of a lesson or lecture: Mi presti gli appunti di storia?^[4][8]
3. (figurative) A criticism or mild reproach: muovere un appunto a qualcuno.^[4][8][6]
4. (computing, plural) The clipboard, the memory area holding copied or cut data.^[8][6][1]
5. (dated, commerce) An account, or in banking a bill.^[4][6][7]

Word family

• appuntino

appunto² exactly

Etymology tree of appunto²

inherited borrowed derived

Latin ad

Italian a

Italian appunto

From the same root · appunto²

Italian abbastanza ← a

Italian accanto ← a

Italian addosso ← a

Italian affare ← a

Italian affatto ← a

Italian appena ← a

Italian arrivederci ← a

Italian attorno ← a

Italian attraverso ← a

Pronunciation

• /apˈpun.to/^[1]

Forms

appunto^[1]

Etymology

The adverb meaning “exactly” is the phrase a punto “at the point”, written as one word with the doubled consonant of the pronunciation: from Italian a + punto.^{[2][3][4][9][1]} DEI and Zingarelli compare Latin ad punctum “to the point”.^[10][7] The two-word spelling survives as a less common or literary variant.^[1][7][9]

Earliest recorded meaning

The TLIO's first record is Brunetto Latini's Tesoretto, before 1274, in the sense “precisely, exactly”.^[11] DELI dates the adverb to the Novellino, at the end of the 13th century, and Zingarelli to 1266.^[2][7] In the Novellino a man asks a goldsmith for two rings made just like his own.^[5]

Semantic evolution

Old Italian used the adverb also for “fittingly”, “in good order”, “zealously” and “in a composed manner”.^[11] Dante writes in the Vita Nuova that nine years had appunto passed since his first sight of Beatrice.^[5] Tommaseo describes it as marking that one thing corresponds exactly to another, as if they met at the same point.^[12]

Modern Italian uses appunto to focus on a word of the sentence, as an emphatic “exactly!” in answers, and as a connective meaning “indeed, as expected”.^[4][8][6] The diminutive appuntino “with great care” is recorded before 1492 in Lorenzo de' Medici.^[2]

Timeline

• 1266 – Zingarelli's date for the adverb.^[7]
• Before 1274 – Brunetto Latini uses a punto “exactly”.^[11]
• Late 13th century – The Novellino has appunto.^[2]
• Before 1492 – Lorenzo de' Medici has appuntino “with great care”.^[2]

Meanings

Adverb

1. exactly, precisely, just, focusing on the word that follows: Stavo appunto pensando a te.^[4][8][6]
2. In answers, an emphatic “exactly!”, “just so!”: «Vuoi dire che non lo sapeva nessuno?» «Appunto!»^[4][8][7]
3. As a connective, indeed, as was to be expected: Volevano vincere, e appunto hanno vinto.^[8][6]

Word family

• appuntino