Etymologically
Log in

sensazione

History Permalink

Etymology and origin of the Italian word sensazione

Confidence
Established
Formation
Borrowing
First attested
before 1460, Michele Savonarola
Borrowed from
Latin sensatio
Ultimate origin
Latin sentiō

Pronunciation

  • /sen.satˈt͡sjo.ne/[1]

Forms

sensazione f (plural sensazioni)[1]

Etymology

It is a learned borrowed from Late Latin sēnsātiō, derived from Latin sēnsus (“sense”).[2][3][4][1] Sabatini–Coletti, Zingarelli and Treccani call the Latin word Medieval, and DEI also compares French sensation.[5][6][7][8] GRADIT derives it from sentiō (“to feel, perceive”), the verb behind sēnsus.[9] The Latin noun may have been formed on the participle sēnsātus (“endowed with sense”).[1][10]

The sense “stir” is a calque of French faire sensation and à sensation.[6][7]

Earliest recorded meaning

The first record is sensatione in the De regimine of Michele Savonarola (before 1460), and the form sensazione is in Giovan Battista Gelli (1549).[11][9] The sense was the first psychological effect of an outside stimulus, an impression: Gelli writes that the organs in which le sensazioni take place must be free of their objects.[11][4]

Semantic evolution

The word belonged first to philosophy and medicine: the knowledge given by the senses as opposed to the intelligible, which Descartes, the Scottish school and the sensists defined in different ways.[4] Varchi wrote that every sense needs a medium in sensazione.[12]

The sense of a strong impression, of surprise or interest, is recorded in 1789, in a Milanese newspaper: a speech “made the greatest sensazione”.[11] Tommaseo condemned it as improper, saying that the French had drame à sensation and some Italians repeated it, while Italian had far senso.[11] It stayed: fare sensazione is to cause a stir, and a sensazione describes a play or film made for effect.[6][7][3] The adjective sensazionale followed in 1881.[8]

Timeline

  • Before 1460 – Michele Savonarola has sensatione.[11]
  • 1549 – Giovan Battista Gelli has sensazione.[11][9]
  • 1789 – Sensazione is recorded for a stir of surprise or interest.[11]
  • 1881 – Sensazionale is recorded.[8]

Meanings

Noun

  1. sensation: a conscious perception produced by an outside or inside stimulus on the organs of sense: Sotto la doccia provò una piacevole sensazione di fresco.[9][3][5]
  2. The awareness of a physical or mental state, a feeling.[9][3][7]
  3. A vague impression, a presentiment: Ho la sensazione che domani nevicherà.[9][5][6]
  4. An experience of particular intensity: Cerca sempre sensazioni nuove.[3][5]
  5. A stir of surprise or interest, especially in fare sensazione, a sensazione, made for effect.[3][6][7]
  6. (physics) The effect of sound or light signals on a listener or viewer: sensazione sonora, sensazione luminosa.[7][9]

Word family

  • sensazionale
  • sensazionalismo
  • sensazionismo
  • sensazionista

References

  1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ Nocentini, Alberto; Parenti, Alessandro (2010), l'Etimologico: vocabolario della lingua italiana, Firenze: Le Monnier
  3. ^ a b c d e f 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 Battaglia, Salvatore; Bàrberi Squarotti, Giorgio (1961–2002), Grande dizionario della lingua italiana, 21 vols., Torino: UTET; digital ed. Accademia della Crusca
  5. ^ a b c d Sabatini, Francesco; Coletti, Vittorio; Manfredini, Manuela (2026), Dizionario italiano Sabatini Coletti, digital ed., Milano: Sansoni / Rizzoli Larousse
  6. ^ a b c d e Zingarelli, Nicola (2009), Lo Zingarelli 2010: vocabolario della lingua italiana, Bologna: Zanichelli
  7. ^ a b c d e f Vocabolario della lingua italiana Treccani (2011), Roma: Istituto della Enciclopedia Italiana
  8. ^ a b c Battisti, Carlo; Alessio, Giovanni (1950–1957), Dizionario etimologico italiano, 5 vols., Firenze: Barbèra (reprint 1975), p. 3454
  9. ^ a b c d e f g De Mauro, Tullio (ed.) (2003), Grande dizionario italiano dell'uso, CD-ROM version 2.0, Torino: UTET
  10. ^ Devoto, Giacomo (1968), Avviamento alla etimologia italiana: dizionario etimologico, 2nd ed., Firenze: Le Monnier
  11. ^ a b c d e f g Cortelazzo, Manlio; Zolli, Paolo (1999), Dizionario etimologico della lingua italiana, 2nd ed. by Manlio Cortelazzo and Michele A. Cortelazzo, Bologna: Zanichelli
  12. ^ Tommaseo, Niccolò; Bellini, Bernardo (1861–1879), Dizionario della lingua italiana, 4 vols., Torino: UTET

Related etymologies

  • no · also from Latin
  • cosa · also from Latin
  • a · also from Latin
  • mio · also from Latin
  • uno · also from Latin
  • si · also from Latin
  • sapere · also from Latin
  • fare · also from Latin
Cite this entry

“Sensazione.” Etymologically, 21 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/it/sensazione. Accessed 22 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·