meglio Italian · revision 37582

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=early 13th century, Ritmo lucchese (as mei)|origins=la melior}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /ˈmɛʎ.ʎo/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''meglio''' (invariable)^(Wiktionary)

+ Old Italian also had the shortened forms [[roa-oit|me’]] and [[roa-oit|mei]], the second still northern.^(DELI 1999)^(Zingarelli 2010) The GDLI lists ''mèi'' and ''me’'' as old forms.^(GDLI|10, 7)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|la|melius|t=better]], the neuter of [[m|la|melior|t=better]], which also gave [[migliore]].^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010)^(GRADIT 2003)^(Wiktionary) DELI and the GDLI call it a learned word, while Nocentini and DEI simply derive it from the Latin adverb, and DEI counts it among the words shared by the western Romance languages.^(DELI 1999)^(GDLI|10, 7)^(Nocentini 2010)^(DEI|2406) The same adverb gave [[fr|mieux]], [[pro|melhs]] and [[sc|mezus]], and [[scn|megghiu]] is the Sicilian form.^(Nocentini 2010)^(REW 1935)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ Devoto described the Latin word as archaic in structure and without connections outside Italy, a view DELI quotes.^(Devoto 1968|276)^(DELI 1999) De Vaan reconstructs [[ine-pro|*mel-iōs]] but finds the Indo-European etymology weak, since [[grc|μάλα|tr=mála|t=very]] shows no e-grade and words for “good” are often renewed.^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Shortened ''mei'' appears in the Ritmo lucchese at the start of the 13th century, and ''me’'' in Chiaro Davanzati later in the same century.^(DELI 1999) The full form ''meglio'' is first recorded before 1348 in Francesco da Barberino, in the sense “in a better way”.^(DELI 1999) As a noun, “the best thing”, it is found in Inghilfredi in the 13th century.^(DELI 1999)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The word served from the start as the comparative of [[bene]], “in a better way”, and Boccaccio used it as such in the ''Decameron'' (1348–1353).^(DELI 1999)^(Tommaseo–Bellini 1861) In the older language it could also mean simply “more” or “rather”, a use the dictionaries now mark as literary.^(DELI 1999)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010) In ''Purgatorio'' 26 Dante is told that he gathers experience ''per morir meglio'', “in order to die better”.^(GDLI|10, 7)

+

+ Used as an invariable adjective it took the place of [[migliore]] in predicates: a translation of Palladius of about 1340 has ''quella è meglio'', “that one is better”, beside ''è la migliore''.^(DELI 1999) The sense “preferable” is in Iacopone before 1306, and ''è meglio che…'', “it is better that…”, is still the usual construction.^(DELI 1999)^(GRADIT 2003) Before a past participle it forms comparatives and, with the article, superlatives such as ''il meglio organizzato''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026) Popular speech also uses it before nouns in place of ''migliore'', which the dictionaries mark as popular.^(GRADIT 2003)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * Early 13th century – The shortened ''mei'' appears in the Ritmo lucchese.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 13th century – Inghilfredi uses the word as a noun, “the best thing”.^(DELI 1999)

+ * Before 1306 – Iacopone da Todi uses it for “preferable”.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1300–1313 – Dante has ''mei'' for “in a more fitting way”.^(DELI 1999)

+ * About 1340 – A translation of Palladius uses it as an adjective, “better”.^(DELI 1999)

+ * Before 1348 – The full form ''meglio'', “in a better way”, is recorded in Francesco da Barberino.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1348–1353 – Boccaccio uses it as the comparative of ''bene''.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 15th century – ''Il meglio'', “the best part”, appears in Giovanni Cavalcanti.^(DELI 1999)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adverb===

+ # [[m|en|better]], in a better or more satisfactory way: the comparative of [[bene]]: ''Con la luce accesa leggo meglio.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+ # ''stare meglio'', ''sentirsi meglio'': to be in better health or better off: ''Dopo la cura mia nonna sta meglio.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)

+ # ''o meglio'', ''per meglio dire'': or rather, used to correct or sharpen what has just been said.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+ # Before a past participle, more; with the article, most: ''la squadra meglio allenata del torneo''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+ # ''(literary)'' More, rather, with verbs of wishing and loving.^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)^(GRADIT 2003)

+

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Better, chiefly after ''essere'', ''sembrare'' and similar verbs, ''è meglio'', it is [[m|en|preferable]]: ''È meglio partire presto.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Treccani 2011)

+ # ''(popular)'' With the article, best.^(GRADIT 2003)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # ''il meglio'' (masculine): the best, the best thing or part: ''fare del proprio meglio'', to do one’s best.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Wiktionary)^(DELI 1999)

+ # ''la meglio'' (feminine), in ''avere la meglio'': to get the [[m|en|upper hand]], to win.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[migliore]]

+ * [[migliorare]]

+ * [[la|melior]]

+ * [[fr|mieux]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Common phrases are ''alla meglio'' or ''alla bell’e meglio'', “as best one can”, ''tanto meglio'', “so much the better”, and ''per il meglio'', “for the best”.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Treccani 2011) The GDLI also has a ''mèglio'' that is only a variant of [[miglio]] “millet”.^(GDLI|10)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}