molto Italian · revision 37474

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=before 1250|origins=la multus}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /ˈmol.to/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''molto''' (superlative moltissimo)^(Wiktionary)

+ Old forms include ''multo'' and ''multu''.^(GDLI|10, 745) Tuscan has the strengthened ''di molto'' or ''dimolto''.^(Prati 1951|672)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|la|multus|t=much, many]], and as an adverb the Latin neuter [[m|la|multum|t=much]].^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010)^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026) The word is panromance: [[fro|mout]], [[oc|molt]], [[ca|molt]], [[es|mucho]], [[pt|muito]] and [[ro|mult]].^(Nocentini 2010)^(REW 1935) It was later replaced by [[fr|beaucoup]] in France and by [[assai]] in much of southern Italy, though the Abruzzo keeps “mute”.^(DEI|2491)^(Körting 1907)

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+ The Latin adjective continues [[itc-pro|*molto-]], also found in [[osc|molto|t=fine, penalty]].^(de Vaan 2008) DELI, Nocentini and de Vaan connect it with [[la|melior|t=better]], so that its first sense would be “good, abundant”, and compare [[grc|μάλα|tr=mála|t=very]] and [[lv|milns|t=very many]].^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010)^(de Vaan 2008) De Vaan regards the Indo-European root as weakly supported.^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The adverb “greatly” is first recorded before 1250 in an anonymous poem, and Giacomo da Lentini, before 1250, uses the adjective “many” and ''molto'' before an adjective to form the superlative.^(DELI 1999)^(GRADIT 2003)^(Nocentini 2010) His line ''Molti amadori la lor malatia / portano in core'' means “many lovers carry their sickness in their hearts”.^(GDLI|10, 745)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Brunetto Latini uses ''molto'' to strengthen a comparative and as a noun, “a great quantity”, before 1294.^(DELI 1999) Dante has the sense “great”, and Boccaccio “long”.^(DELI 1999) Pietro Bembo noted in the 16th century that ''molto'' and ''assai'' mean the same.^(GDLI|10, 745)

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+ In music ''molto'' strengthens a tempo marking, as in ''allegro molto'';^(DIFIT) English took it in 1786, German in 1802 and French in 1837.^(DIFIT) In Italian schools ''molto'' was also used as a mark for good work.^(Treccani 2011)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * Before 1250 – First record, as an adverb in an anonymous poem and as an adjective in Giacomo da Lentini.^(DELI 1999)

+ * Before 1294 – Brunetto Latini uses ''molto'' with comparatives and as a noun.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1300–1313 – Dante uses the sense “great”.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1348–1353 – Boccaccio uses the sense “long”.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1786 – The musical term is first recorded in English.^(DIFIT)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # [[m|en|much]], a lot of: with uncountable nouns: ''c'è molta nebbia stamattina''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+ # [[m|en|many]]: with plural or collective nouns: ''ha molti libri di storia''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)

+ # Great, strong: ''lavora con molta cura''.^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Gabrielli 2020)

+ # Long, of time or distance: ''dopo molto tempo''.^(DELI 1999)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)

+ # Too much, too many: ''venti euro per un panino sono molti''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+

+ ===Pronoun===

+ # Much, a lot: ''ci vorrà molto?''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+ # ''(plural)'' Many people: ''molti non erano d'accordo''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Treccani 2011)

+

+ ===Adverb===

+ # A lot, greatly: ''ha camminato molto''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+ # [[m|en|very]]: before adjectives and adverbs: ''è molto stanco''.^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Much, far: before comparatives: ''molto meglio''.^(Zingarelli 2010)^(DELI 1999)

+ # For a long time: ''non resto molto''.^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # ''(singular)'' A great deal, much: ''il molto e il poco''.^(Treccani 2011)^(Tommaseo–Bellini 1861)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[moltissimo]]

+ * [[dimolto]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[multi-]]

+ * [[molti-]]

+ * [[più]]

+ * [[moltitudine]]

+ * [[la|multus]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ As an adjective and pronoun ''molto'' agrees with its noun (''molte persone''); as an adverb it does not change (''molto belle'').^(GRADIT 2003)^(Zingarelli 2010) Its comparative is ''più'' and its superlative ''moltissimo''.^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Wiktionary)

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+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}