certo Italian · revision 37540

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=c. 1190, Raimbaut de Vaqueiras|origins=la cernō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /ˈt͡ʃɛr.to/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''certo''' (feminine certa, masculine plural certi, feminine plural certe, superlative certissimo)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|la|certus|t=fixed, settled; sure]].^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010)^(GRADIT 2003)^(Wiktionary) The Latin adjective is in origin the past participle of [[la|cernō|t=to sift, distinguish, decide]], so that its first meaning was “decided, determined”, then “certain, not in doubt”.^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010)^(GDLI)^(de Vaan 2008) The verb later formed a new participle, [[m|la|crētus]], and the old participle was left as an adjective.^(Wiktionary) It continues in every Romance language except Romanian: [[dlm|ciart]], [[fur|ciart]], [[fr|cert]], [[oc|cert]], [[ca|cert]], [[es|cierto]] and [[pt|certo]].^(LEI|13, 1175)^(Nocentini 2010)^(REW 1935) The use as an indefinite, “a certain, some”, is a Romance development.^(Körting 1907)

+

+ De Vaan traces the Latin word to [[itc-pro|*krito-|t=distinguished]] and [[ine-pro|*krito-|t=sifted]], the same formation as [[grc|κριτός|tr=kritós|t=chosen, separated]].^(de Vaan 2008) Devoto explains the chain of meanings as “sifted”, so “chosen”, so “decided”, so “sure”.^(Devoto 1968|89)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The TLIO's first record is in the Genoese part of Raimbaut de Vaqueiras's bilingual ''Contrasto'', about 1190.^(TLIO) DELI first finds the noun “a certain thing” in Re Giovanni before 1237 and the adjective “ascertained, beyond doubt” in Guido Faba before 1243.^(DELI 1999)^(GRADIT 2003)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The personal sense “firmly persuaded, sure” is in Dante's ''Convivio'' (1304–1308): “così certo sono ad altra vita migliore dopo questa passare” (so sure am I of passing after this to another, better life).^(DELI 1999)^(GDLI) Dante also uses the indefinite “some, a certain” in 1293–1294, and ''certo'' “clear, distinct” before 1321, as in “qual che tu sii, od ombra od omo certo” (whatever you are, shade or real man, ''Inferno'' 1).^(DELI 1999)^(Zingarelli 2010) The adverb “certainly” is used from the earliest texts, in Brunetto Latini, Guittone and the ''Vita nuova''.^(GDLI|3, 5)

+

+ Old Sienese ''certo'' also meant “sifted”, keeping the sense of the Latin verb.^(DEI|873) Tuscan and Venetian formed ''certiduni'' “some people” from ''certi'' and ''uno''.^(REW 1935)^(Prati 1951|269)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1190 – Raimbaut de Vaqueiras uses ''certo'' in Genoese.^(TLIO)

+ * Before 1237 – ''Certo'' as a noun, “a certain thing”, in Re Giovanni.^(DELI 1999)

+ * Before 1243 – Guido Faba uses ''certo'' “beyond doubt”.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1293–1294 – Dante uses ''certo'' “some, a certain”.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1304–1308 – ''Certo'' “sure, persuaded” in Dante's ''Convivio''.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1664 – ''Certuno'' “someone” in Carlo Roberto Dati.^(DELI 1999)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # [[m|en|certain]], beyond doubt: ''una notizia certa''; impersonally: ''è certo che pioverà''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+ # Sure to happen: ''una vittoria certa''; reliable, effective: ''un metodo certo''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+ # Of a person, [[m|en|sure]], convinced: ''sono certo di averlo chiuso''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Treccani 2011)

+ # ''(literary)'' Real, clearly seen.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+

+ ===Determiner===

+ # [[m|en|some]], a certain, before a noun: ''certi giorni non ho fame'', ''un certo signor Bruni''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Treccani 2011)

+ # Intensifying or belittling: ''ha certe idee!'', ''ha una certa età''.^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Treccani 2011)

+

+ ===Pronoun===

+ # In the plural, some people: ''certi dicono che sia partito''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Treccani 2011)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # What is certain: ''lasciare il certo per l'incerto''.^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Treccani 2011)

+

+ ===Adverb===

+ # [[m|en|certainly]], of course: ''Vieni stasera?'' – ''Certo!'', ''certo che ti aiuto''.^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(GDLI)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[certezza]]

+ * [[certamente]]

+ * [[certuno]]

+ * [[accertare]]

+ * [[accertamento]]

+ * [[incerto]]

+ * [[incertezza]]

+ * [[stracerto]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[cernere]]

+ * [[la|certus]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Phrases include ''di certo'' and ''per certo'' (certainly), ''dare per certo'' (to announce as sure), ''un certo non so che'' (a certain something) and ''in un certo senso'' (in a way).^(GRADIT 2003)^(Treccani 2011) Before a noun ''certo'' is indefinite (''certe persone'', some people), after it qualitative (''persone certe'', reliable people).^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Treccani 2011)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}