probabilmente

Etymology

It is from Italian probabile + -mente, the adjective “probable” with the adverb suffix.^[2][1][3] The adjective is a learned word, borrowed from Latin probābilis (“worthy of approval; plausible”), from probō (“to test; to prove”), recorded in Bono Giamboni before 1292.^[4][5] It has the same form in French probable and Spanish probable.^[5]

Earliest recorded meaning

DELI's first record is the Tuscan translation of Guido delle Colonne's history of Troy, in the first half of the 14th century, where the adverb means “with good reason, plausibly”.^[4][6]

Semantic evolution

In the old texts the adverb often meant “on reasonable but uncertain grounds”, as when the commentator on Dante called the place of Purgatory a matter one could judge only probabilmente and by the sayings of the saints.^[6][7] Tommaseo also gives the sense “in a way that can be shown or approved”, now obsolete.^[7] Today it is the common adverb for “probably”, said of what one thinks will happen or has happened, on good grounds but without certainty.^[2][8] The superlative probabilissimamente is recorded.^[6]

Timeline

• Before 1292 – Bono Giamboni uses probabile “credible”.^[4]
• First half of the 14th century – probabilmente in the Guido delle Colonne translation.^[4]
• Before 1540 – Francesco Guicciardini uses probabilità.^[4]

Meanings

Adverb

1. probably, very likely, with good grounds but without certainty: Probabilmente domani nevicherà in montagna.^[2][8][3]
2. Perhaps, possibly, in answers: «Verrà anche lui?» «Probabilmente.»^[3][1]

Related words

• probabile
• probabilità
• provare
• Latin probābilis

References

1. ^ a b c Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c De Mauro, Tullio (ed.) (2003), Grande dizionario italiano dell'uso, CD-ROM version 2.0, Torino: UTET
3. ^ a b c Vocabolario della lingua italiana Treccani (2011), Roma: Istituto della Enciclopedia Italiana
4. ^ a b c d e Cortelazzo, Manlio; Zolli, Paolo (1999), Dizionario etimologico della lingua italiana, 2nd ed. by Manlio Cortelazzo and Michele A. Cortelazzo, Bologna: Zanichelli
5. ^ a b Nocentini, Alberto; Parenti, Alessandro (2010), l'Etimologico: vocabolario della lingua italiana, Firenze: Le Monnier
6. ^ a b c Battaglia, Salvatore; Bàrberi Squarotti, Giorgio (1961–2002), Grande dizionario della lingua italiana, 21 vols., Torino: UTET; digital ed. Accademia della Crusca, p. 14, 419
7. ^ a b Tommaseo, Niccolò; Bellini, Bernardo (1861–1879), Dizionario della lingua italiana, 4 vols., Torino: UTET
8. ^ a b Devoto, Giacomo; Oli, Gian Carlo; Serianni, Luca; Trifone, Maurizio (2026), Nuovo Devoto–Oli: il vocabolario dell'italiano contemporaneo, digital ed., Milano: Le Monnier