pronto Italian · revision 37595

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1260–1261, Brunetto Latini|origins=la emō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /ˈpron.to/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''pronto''' (feminine pronta, masculine plural pronti, feminine plural pronte, superlative prontissimo)^(Wiktionary)

+ Old forms include ''prompto'' and ''prunto'', the latter in Pisa, Arezzo and Umbria.^(TLIO)^(DEI|3104)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|la|promptus|t=ready, at hand]], the past participle of [[m|la|prōmō|t=to bring out]], from [[m|la|prō|t=forward]] and [[m|la|emō|t=to take; to buy]].^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010)^(GRADIT 2003) The literal meaning was “brought out and set before the eyes”, hence “visible, at hand, ready”.^(Nocentini 2010)^(Treccani 2011) Nocentini classes it as a borrowing from Latin, and DEI as a semi-learned word of Italy and the western Romance languages.^(Nocentini 2010)^(DEI|3104) It matches [[fr|prompt]] and [[es|pronto]].^(Nocentini 2010)^(REW 1935) Latin [[m|la|emō]] goes back to [[ine-pro|*h₁em-|t=to take]].^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The TLIO's first record is in Brunetto Latini's ''Rettorica'' (about 1260–1261).^(TLIO) DELI's earliest dated sense is “quick, not delaying” in Guittone d'Arezzo before 1294.^(DELI 1999)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Dante uses the word for things ready to be used (1304–1308) and for a person ready to do something.^(DELI 1999) Old Italian also had the senses “willing”, “trained”, “inclined to”, and “evident”, the last close to the Latin.^(TLIO) The phrase ''in pronto'' “at hand” renders Latin ''in promptu (habere)''.^(GDLI|14, 610) In the 16th century Vasari used it of painting for “free, unconstrained”.^(DEI|3104) From the 20th century ''pronto?'' is the word for answering the telephone.^(DEI|3104)^(GRADIT 2003)

+

+ As a term of music it passed into French (1703) and English (1724).^(DIFIT) ''Pronta cassa'' “cash on delivery” recalls English ''ready money''.^(DELI 1999) Modern compounds include ''pronto soccorso'' “casualty department” and ''pronto intervento'' “emergency service”.^(GRADIT 2003)^(GDLI)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * About 1260–1261 – Brunetto Latini uses ''pronto'' in the ''Rettorica''.^(TLIO)

+ * Before 1294 – Guittone d'Arezzo uses it for “quick”.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1304–1308 – Dante uses it of things ready for use.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1354 – ''Prontamente'' is recorded in Iacopo Passavanti.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1553 – ''Prontuario'' “handbook” appears in a book title.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1724 – English ''pronto'' is recorded as a musical term.^(DIFIT)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Of a thing, [[m|en|ready]], prepared for immediate use: ''La cena è pronta.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Of a person, ready or prepared to do something: ''Siete pronti per partire?''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)

+ # Willing, [[m|en|disposed]], about to do something: ''Era pronto a tutto pur di vincere.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Inclined by nature to an attitude: ''pronto all'ira''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+ # Quick, [[m|en|prompt]], immediate: ''una pronta guarigione''; of the mind, quick and lively.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+

+ ===Interjection===

+ # ''(telephony)'' [[m|en|hello]], said when answering the telephone.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[prontamente]]

+ * [[prontezza]]

+ * [[prontuario]]

+ * [[approntare]]

+ * [[prontitudine]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[la|promptus]]

+ * [[fr|prompt]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}