forse Italian · revision 37529

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=13th century, Stefano Protonotaro|origins=la forsit}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /ˈfor.se/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''forse''' (invariable)^(Wiktionary)^(GRADIT 2003)

+ Old and rural forms are ''forsi'' and ''forsa''.^(GDLI|6, 207)^(Prati 1951|458)

+ GRADIT's first record is the Sicilian form ''forsi''.^(GRADIT 2003)

+ [[vec|forsi]] and [[lmo|forsi]] keep the ending in ''-i''.^(Prati 1951|458)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|la|forsit|t=perhaps]], a fusion of [[m|la|fors|t=chance, luck]] and [[m|la|sum|alt=sit|t=may it be]], literally “be it chance”.^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010)^(GRADIT 2003)^(Treccani 2011)^(OLD 2012) Devoto describes how an independent clause became an adverbial phrase and then an adverb.^(Devoto 1968|188) Latin ⟨forsit⟩ competed with the more common [[m|la|forsitan]], from a phrase meaning “perchance it be that”.^(GDLI|6, 207)^(de Vaan 2008) The word belongs to Italy, Sardinia and the Engadine: [[sc|forsis]] and [[rm|forsa]].^(DEI|1694)^(REW 1935)

+

+ The Latin noun continues [[itc-pro|*forti-|t=luck]]; de Vaan, with a question mark, derives it from [[ine-pro|*bʰr̥-ti-|t=bearing]], from the root of [[m|la|ferō|t=to carry]], and notes that Ernout and Meillet reject this connection.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Wiktionary) Devoto takes “chance” as a euphemism, “what is borne” to each person.^(Devoto 1968|188)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ DELI's first record is in Stefano Protonotaro, a poet of the Sicilian school, in the 13th century, in the sense “probably”, expressing doubt or possibility.^(DELI 1999)^(GRADIT 2003) Dante has it in ''Inferno'' 10: “forse cui Guido vostro ebbe a disdegno” (whom perhaps your Guido held in disdain).^(GDLI|6, 207)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ With a number it means “about”, recorded around 1304 in Giordano da Pisa, and the noun ''forse'', “doubt, uncertainty”, appears at the beginning of the 14th century in the ''Intelligenza''.^(DELI 1999) Tommaseo quotes Bembo's remark that the ancients always wrote ''forse'', while ''forsi'' was used later.^(Tommaseo–Bellini 1861) The ''Novellino'' already has ''forseché''.^(Prati 1951|458)

+

+ The noun survives in phrases: ''in forse'' (in doubt, and of a life, in danger), ''mettere in forse'' (to call into question) and ''senza forse'' (certainly).^(Treccani 2011)^(GRADIT 2003) In questions the adverb means “by any chance”, and in rhetorical questions, often with ''non'', it strengthens the expected answer.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 13th century – Stefano Protonotaro uses ''forsi''.^(DELI 1999)^(GRADIT 2003)

+ * About 1304 – Giordano da Pisa uses it for “about”, with a number.^(DELI 1999)

+ * Beginning of the 14th century – The noun “doubt” in the ''Intelligenza''.^(DELI 1999)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adverb===

+ # [[m|en|perhaps]], [[m|en|maybe]], expressing doubt or probability: ''forse domani nevica''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Softening a statement: ''è forse il film più bello dell’anno''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)

+ # With a number, about: ''eravamo forse in venti''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Treccani 2011)

+ # In questions, by any chance: ''hai forse visto le mie chiavi?''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Treccani 2011)

+ # In rhetorical questions, often with ''non'': ''non te l’avevo forse detto?''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # [[m|en|doubt]], uncertainty: ''basta con i forse, decidi!''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[inforsare]]

+ * [[forseché]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[fortuna]]

+ * [[la|forsitan]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}