veramente

Etymology

It is formed from Italian vero + -mente, with the feminine ⟨vera⟩ before the adverbial suffix, as in all adverbs in ⟨-mente⟩.^[2][3][4][1] The Italian Wikizionario traces it to a Latin phrase vērā mente “with a true mind”.^[5] The same formation is French vraiment.^[1]

Earliest recorded meaning

GRADIT and Devoto–Oli date the adverb to the second half of the 13th century.^[2][3] DELI's first records are in the Fiore and in Dante's Convivio (1304–1308), where the word is found nearly eighty times;^[6] Giordano da Pisa (1305–1306) uses it beside veracemente.^[6] The GDLI quotes it from the Ritmo di Sant'Alessio and, from Bondie Dietaiuti.^[7]

Semantic evolution

Dante already used veramente as a limiting conjunction, “however, nevertheless”, in the Commedia (1300–1313), after Latin vērum (“but”).^[6][3] Boccaccio has sì veramente che “on condition that”, now archaic.^[3] The use in questions expressing surprise or doubt, Veramente? “Really?”, is recorded in 1879 in Tommaseo–Bellini.^[6]

Timeline

• Second half of the 13th century – Veramente is first recorded.^[2]
• 1300–1313 – Dante uses it in the sense “however”.^[6]
• 1304–1308 – Dante uses it almost eighty times in the Convivio.^[6]
• 1879 – Tommaseo–Bellini records its use in questions of surprise.^[6]

Meanings

Adverb

1. really, truly, in accordance with the truth: Le cose sono andate veramente così.^[2][3][4]
2. As an intensifier, really, very: un film veramente bello.^[2][3]
3. In questions, expressing surprise or disbelief: «Ho vinto io.» «Veramente?»^[2][3][8]
4. As a qualifier, actually, to tell the truth, though: Io, veramente, preferirei restare.^[2][3][8]

Related words

• vero
• davvero
• verità

References

1. ^ a b c Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g De Mauro, Tullio (ed.) (2003), Grande dizionario italiano dell'uso, CD-ROM version 2.0, Torino: UTET
3. ^ a b c d e f g h 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 Vocabolario della lingua italiana Treccani (2011), Roma: Istituto della Enciclopedia Italiana
5. ^ Wikizionario (Italian Wiktionary), it.wiktionary.org
6. ^ 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
7. ^ Battaglia, Salvatore; Bàrberi Squarotti, Giorgio (1961–2002), Grande dizionario della lingua italiana, 21 vols., Torino: UTET; digital ed. Accademia della Crusca, p. 21, 760
8. ^ a b Gabrielli, Aldo (2020), Grande dizionario italiano, digital ed., Milano: Hoepli