sicuro Italian · revision 37577

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=1207–1208|origins=la cūra}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /siˈku.ro/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''sicuro''' (feminine sicura, masculine plural sicuri, feminine plural sicure, superlative sicurissimo)^(Wiktionary)

+ The old and literary form is ''securo''.^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Treccani 2011)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|la|sēcūrus|t=free from care, untroubled]], through a Vulgar Latin form with the usual change of the unstressed ⟨e⟩ before the stress to ⟨i⟩.^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010)^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto 1968|406) The Latin adjective is formed from [[m|la|sē-|t=apart, without]] and [[m|la|cūra|t=care, anxiety]], so its first sense was “without worry”.^(DELI 1999)^(GRADIT 2003)^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary) The same word is [[fr|sûr]], the source of [[en|sure]], [[oc|segur]], [[ca|segur]], [[es|seguro]] and [[pt|seguro]]; it was borrowed into [[goh|sihhur]], whence [[de|sicher]].^(Nocentini 2010)^(REW 1935)^(Körting 1907)

+

+ De Vaan derives the noun from [[itc-pro|*kʷoisā|t=care]], perhaps from the root [[ine-pro|*kʷei-|t=to heed]], and thinks the adjective was formed directly from it.^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Nocentini dates the first record to 1207–1208.^(Nocentini 2010) DELI's first example, from Iacopo Mostacci in the first half of the 13th century, has the Latin sense, “free from fear, calm”.^(DELI 1999)^(GRADIT 2003)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ “Protected from danger, well defended” follows at the end of the 13th century in the ''Novellino''.^(DELI 1999) Dante uses the word both of a person who knows something for certain and of one who acts with skill and self-assurance; in Boccaccio it can also mean “bold”.^(DELI 1999)^(Prati 1951|917) As a noun, ''il sicuro'' “what is certain” appears in the 15th century, and Tommaseo records an old ''sicuro'' for a surety on a loan.^(DELI 1999)^(Tommaseo–Bellini 1861) The adverbial ''sicuro!'', “certainly, of course”, is in Forteguerri before 1735.^(DELI 1999)^(Tommaseo–Bellini 1861)

+

+ Derivatives followed: ''sicurtà'' (1253) continues [[la|sēcūritās]];^(Nocentini 2010)^(DELI 1999) ''sicurezza'', which Nocentini finds in the late 13th century as ''segureza'' and DELI dates to Bembo, now names safety and security;^(Nocentini 2010)^(DELI 1999) ''sicura'', the safety catch of a gun, dates from the 18th century.^(Nocentini 2010)^(DELI 1999) Modern compounds with ''sicurezza'' include ''uscita di sicurezza'' (1940) and ''valvola di sicurezza'' (1840).^(DELI 1999) The word also passed into the Mediterranean Sabir.^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1207–1208 – First record, according to Nocentini.^(Nocentini 2010)

+ * First half of the 13th century – Iacopo Mostacci uses it for “calm, free from fear”.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1253 – ''Sicurtà'' is recorded.^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010)

+ * End of the 13th century – The ''Novellino'' uses it for “safe from danger”.^(DELI 1999)

+ * Before 1321 – Dante uses it for “certain” and “self-assured”.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 15th century – ''Il sicuro'', “what is certain”, is recorded.^(DELI 1999)

+ * Before 1735 – Forteguerri uses ''sicuro'' as an adverb, “certainly”.^(DELI 1999)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # [[m|en|safe]], free from danger or risk: ''un quartiere sicuro''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+ # Of a place, offering protection, [[m|en|secure]]: ''un nascondiglio sicuro''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)

+ # Of a person, feeling safe, unafraid: ''Accanto a lei mi sento sicuro.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+ # [[m|en|sure]], certain (of something): ''Sei sicuro di aver chiuso la porta?''^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Treccani 2011)

+ # Self-confident; steady, skilful: ''guida con mano sicura''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+ # Of a fact, beyond doubt; bound to happen: ''una vittoria sicura''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+ # Reliable, trustworthy: ''un collaboratore sicuro''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+ # Of a device, working well and safely: ''un’auto sicura''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # ''il sicuro'': a safe place or situation: ''al sicuro'', in safety, ''andare sul sicuro'', to take no risks, ''di sicuro'', certainly.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Treccani 2011)^(Gabrielli 2020)

+

+ ===Adverb===

+ # Certainly, of course: ''«Vieni anche tu?» «Sicuro!»''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Gabrielli 2020)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[sicuramente]]

+ * [[sicurezza]]

+ * [[sicura]]

+ * [[insicuro]]

+ * [[insicurezza]]

+ * [[assicurare]]

+ * [[assicurazione]]

+ * [[rassicurare]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[sicurtà]]

+ * [[cura]]

+ * [[la|sēcūrus]]

+ * [[fr|sûr]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ ''A colpo sicuro'' “with certainty” is a calque of [[fr|à coup sûr]].^(Treccani 2011) ''Essere sicuro del fatto proprio'' means to know exactly what one is doing.^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Gabrielli 2020)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}