praticamente

Etymology

It is from Italian pratico + -mente, formed from the adjective “pratico” “practical” with the adverb suffix.^[2][3][1] “Pratico” is a learned word from Late Latin practicus, from Ancient Greek πρακτικός (praktikós, “active, practical”), from πρᾶξις (prâxis, “action”).^[4][5]

Earliest recorded meaning

GRADIT dates the word to 1567, and Devoto–Oli to the 16th century.^[2][6] Pietro Cattaneo uses it of setting to work “practically” on the elements of geometry, and Lomazzo of a book that treats in practice what the others teach in theory.^[7]

Semantic evolution

The early sense was “in practice, as opposed to theory”, and Segneri wrote that it is not enough to know things speculatively, one must also know them praticamente.^[7][8] Vasari used it for work done with an experienced hand, as by a master.^[8] The modern everyday sense “in effect, virtually, almost” (è praticamente finito) grew from “in reality, in substance”.^[2][6] In speech the word is also a sentence adverb meaning “in short, basically”, used at the start of a sentence, as a filler, or as an answer.^[3][2]

Timeline

• 1567 – GRADIT's date of first record.^[2]
• 16th century – Devoto–Oli's date of first record.^[6]

Meanings

Adverb

1. In practice, in a practical way: Ha imparato il mestiere praticamente, lavorando in bottega.^[2][6][3]
2. practically, virtually, almost: La cena è praticamente pronta.^[2][6][1]
3. In short, basically (at the start of a sentence or as a filler): Praticamente mi ha detto di arrangiarmi.^[2][3]

Related words

• pratico
• pratica

References

1. ^ a b c Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h De Mauro, Tullio (ed.) (2003), Grande dizionario italiano dell'uso, CD-ROM version 2.0, Torino: UTET
3. ^ a b c d Vocabolario della lingua italiana Treccani (2011), Roma: Istituto della Enciclopedia Italiana
4. ^ Cortelazzo, Manlio; Zolli, Paolo (1999), Dizionario etimologico della lingua italiana, 2nd ed. by Manlio Cortelazzo and Michele A. Cortelazzo, Bologna: Zanichelli
5. ^ Nocentini, Alberto; Parenti, Alessandro (2010), l'Etimologico: vocabolario della lingua italiana, Firenze: Le Monnier
6. ^ a b c d e Devoto, Giacomo; Oli, Gian Carlo; Serianni, Luca; Trifone, Maurizio (2026), Nuovo Devoto–Oli: il vocabolario dell'italiano contemporaneo, digital ed., Milano: Le Monnier
7. ^ a b Battaglia, Salvatore; Bàrberi Squarotti, Giorgio (1961–2002), Grande dizionario della lingua italiana, 21 vols., Torino: UTET; digital ed. Accademia della Crusca
8. ^ a b Tommaseo, Niccolò; Bellini, Bernardo (1861–1879), Dizionario della lingua italiana, 4 vols., Torino: UTET