signore Italian · revision 37545

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=1219, Breve di Montieri|origins=ine-pro *sen-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /siɲˈɲo.re/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''signore''' ''m'' (masculine plural signori, feminine signora, feminine plural signore, diminutive signorìno, augmentative signoròtto or signoróne (“rich man”))^(Wiktionary)

+ Before names and titles it is shortened to ''signor'': ''il signor Bianchi''.^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+ The old form is ''segnore''.^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Wiktionary) Shortened forms are ''sor'', feminine ''sora'', and Venetian and Friulian ''sior''.^(Prati 1951|918)^(DEI|3493)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|la|senior|t=older]], in the accusative [[m|la|seniōrem]], the comparative of [[m|la|senex|t=old]].^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010)^(GRADIT 2003)^(Wiktionary) In classical Latin ⟨senior⟩ was a man between 45 and 60.^(DELI 1999)^(Prati 1951|918) It became a title in late Latin, in the Notitia dignitatum, Ammianus, Isidore and Gregory of Tours, and in the Salic and Visigothic laws it named nobles; by the 8th century it had taken the place of [[la|dominus|t=lord]].^(DELI 1999)^(DEI|3493) Nocentini explains the change by the age of the men who sat in the king's council, as with [[m|la|senātor]] and [[grc|πρεσβύτερος|tr=presbúteros|t=elder]],^(Nocentini 2010) and Meyer-Lübke stresses its use in Christian Latin as a translation of the Greek word.^(REW 1935) Bezzola thought the Italian title might have come from France;^(DELI 1999) DELI, citing Meyer-Lübke's Italian evidence, finds that doubtful but allows strong French influence.^(DELI 1999)

+

+ The same word is [[fr|seigneur]], [[oc|senhor]], [[ca|senyor]], [[es|señor]] and [[pt|senhor]].^(Nocentini 2010)^(REW 1935) The words [[sire]], [[ser]] and [[messere]] continue the Latin nominative [[m|la|senior]], partly through [[fro|sire]].^(DEI|3493)^(Nocentini 2010)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ Latin [[m|la|senex]] goes back to [[itc-pro|*seno-]] and [[ine-pro|*sen-|t=old]], with [[sga|sen]], [[sa|सन|tr=sána]], [[lt|senas]] and [[got|𐍃𐌹𐌽𐌴𐌹𐌲𐍃|tr=sineigs]].^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ DELI's first record is the Breve di Montieri of 1219, for the holder of a domain, a lord or ruler.^(DELI 1999)^(GRADIT 2003) The sense “God, Christ” is in St Francis, about 1224.^(DELI 1999)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The word meant a master in the ''Novellino'' (late 13th century), and Boccaccio (1353) puts it before a man's name or title.^(DELI 1999) In the 16th century, as Migliorini showed, the title spread widely under Spanish influence: in a satire of 1519 Ariosto complained that “la vile adulazion spagnuola / messe la signoria fin in bordello” (vile Spanish flattery brought lordship even into the brothel).^(DELI 1999) DEI notes that the title became commonplace at the end of the 19th century.^(DEI|3493)

+

+ The sense “gentleman” is in Foscolo, before 1827, and “rich man” in a collection of Tuscan proverbs of 1853.^(DELI 1999) In popular speech ''signore'' became an adjective meaning “excellent”, as in ''un signor pranzo'', which Tommaseo recorded as familiar.^(DELI 1999)^(Tommaseo–Bellini 1861) English took ''signor'' in the 1570s,^(Etymonline)^(DIFIT) French ''signor'' in 1643 and German ''Signore'' in 1479.^(DIFIT)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1219 – A lord or ruler in the Breve di Montieri.^(DELI 1999)^(GRADIT 2003)

+ * About 1224 – “The Lord” in St Francis.^(DELI 1999)

+ * Late 13th century – “Master” in the ''Novellino''.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1353 – A title before a name, in Boccaccio.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1479 – German ''Signore'' is first recorded.^(DIFIT)

+ * 1519 – Ariosto complains of the spread of the title.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1570s – English ''signor''.^(Etymonline)

+ * Before 1827 – “Gentleman” in Foscolo.^(DELI 1999)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # [[m|en|mister|alt=Mister]], [[m|en|sir]]: a title of courtesy before a man's name or title, or used to address him: ''il signor Ferri'', ''scusi, signore''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+ # A [[m|en|gentleman]], a man, said politely: ''c'è un signore che ti cerca''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Treccani 2011)

+ # In the plural, ladies and gentlemen, people: ''i signori desiderano?'', ''signore e signori''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+ # A refined, courteous man: ''si è comportato da vero signore''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Gabrielli 2020)

+ # A rich man: ''ora vive come un signore''; in the plural, the rich.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Treccani 2011)

+ # The master of a house, to servants: ''il signore è fuori''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Gabrielli 2020)

+ # ''(history)'' A [[m|en|lord]] holding a fief or ruling a state: ''i signori di Mantova''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Treccani 2011)

+ # ''(capitalized)'' The [[m|en|Lord]], God or Christ: ''lodare il Signore''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Treccani 2011)

+

+ ===Adjective===

+ # ''(colloquial)'' Excellent, first-rate: ''un signor risotto''.^(Treccani 2011)^(Gabrielli 2020)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[signora]]

+ * [[signorina]]

+ * [[signorino]]

+ * [[signoria]]

+ * [[signorile]]

+ * [[signorilità]]

+ * [[signoreggiare]]

+ * [[signorotto]]

+ * [[signorone]]

+ * [[signorsì]]

+ * [[signornò]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[sire]]

+ * [[ser]]

+ * [[messere]]

+ * [[monsignore]]

+ * [[seniore]]

+ * [[senile]]

+ * [[la|senex]]

+ * [[fr|seigneur]]

+ * [[es|señor]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ In writing the title is abbreviated ''sig.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026) The replies ''signorsì'' and ''signornò'' are used to superiors, especially in the army.^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(DELI 1999) ''Monsignore'' comes from French ''monseigneur'' and entered church usage while the popes were at Avignon.^(Nocentini 2010)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}