subito Italian · revision 37596

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=end of the 13th century, Novellino|origins=la subeō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /ˈsu.bi.to/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''subito''' (adverb, invariable); as an adjective ''subito'', ''subita'', plural ''subiti'', ''subite''^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The adverb is [[bor|la|subitō|t=suddenly]], the ablative of [[m|la|subitus|t=sudden, unexpected]], which the literary adjective continues; both are learned words.^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010)^(GRADIT 2003)^(Wiktionary) The Latin adjective is the past participle of [[m|la|subeō|t=to go under; to come up, approach]], from [[m|la|sub|t=under]] and [[m|la|eō|t=to go]], with the meaning “coming up closely, stealing up”.^(Wiktionary)^(OLD 2012)^(DELI 1999) The same Latin words gave [[fr|subit]] and [[es|súbito]].^(Nocentini 2010)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The phrase ''di subito'' is in the ''Novellino'', at the end of the 13th century, and ''subito'' alone in Iacopone da Todi, before 1306, with the sense “immediately”.^(DELI 1999)^(GRADIT 2003) Iacopone writes: “Omo che 'n rena mobele fa granne edificata, subito è minata” (a man who builds a great building on shifting sand soon sees it undermined).^(GDLI|20, 456)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The adjective “sudden, quick” is in Dante, as in ''Inferno'' 16: “La gente nuova e i subiti guadagni / orgoglio e dismisura han generata” (the newcomers and the sudden gains have bred pride and excess).^(DELI 1999)^(GRADIT 2003) Boccaccio writes of a love that “con subita fiamma si raccese” (flared up again with a sudden flame).^(Tommaseo–Bellini 1861) The adjective is now literary, while the adverb is among the commonest words of the language.^(GRADIT 2003)

+

+ Old Italian and the dialects also have ''subbito''.^(GDLI|20, 456)^(Wiktionary) In music the adverb appears in ''volti subito'' “turn over quickly”, written at the foot of a page;^(DIFIT) French took it in 1703, English in 1724 and German in 1732.^(DIFIT)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * End of the 13th century – The ''Novellino'' uses ''di subito''.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1304–1308 – Dante uses ''subitano'' “sudden”.^(DELI 1999)

+ * Before 1306 – Iacopone da Todi uses ''subito'' “immediately”.^(DELI 1999)

+ * Before 1321 – Dante uses the adjective “sudden, quick”.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1354 – ''Subitaneo'' appears in Iacopo Passavanti.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1703 – French musical ''subito'' is recorded.^(DIFIT)

+ * 1724 – English musical ''subito'' is recorded.^(DIFIT)

+ * 1732 – German musical ''subito'' is recorded.^(DIFIT)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adverb===

+ # At once, [[m|en|immediately]]: ''Chiamami subito quando arrivi.'' Also alone, as a reply to a call or order, “coming!”.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+ # In a very short time, quickly: ''Con il microonde si fa subito.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+ # In ''subito prima'' and ''subito dopo'', just before, right after.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Gabrielli 2020)

+ # ''(literary)'' [[m|en|suddenly]].^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+

+ ===Adjective===

+ # ''(literary)'' [[m|en|sudden]], unexpected; quick, prompt, ''(archaic)'' of a person, impulsive.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Treccani 2011)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # ''(literary)'' In ''in un subito'', in an instant.^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Treccani 2011)^(Tommaseo–Bellini 1861)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[subitamente]]

+ * [[subitezza]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[subitaneo]]

+ * [[subire]]

+ * [[la|subitus]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ The word is stressed on the first syllable, ''sùbito''; the past participle of ''subire'' is ''subìto'', and Zingarelli notes that the accent is sometimes written to keep them apart.^(Zingarelli 2010)^(GDLI)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}