successo Italian · revision 37606

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=before 1342, Domenico Cavalca|origins=la cēdō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /sutˈt͡ʃɛs.so/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''successo''' ''m'' (plural successi)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|la|successus|t=a coming up; course; good outcome]], a noun formed on the past participle of [[m|la|succēdō|t=to come up; follow; turn out well]].^(Nocentini 2010)^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Wiktionary) It is a learned word.^(GDLI|20, 477) The Latin verb is [[m|la|sub-|t=under, up to]] and [[m|la|cēdō|t=to go]].^(Devoto 1968|431)

+

+ The same Latin noun gave [[fr|succès]] and [[es|suceso]] “event”.^(Nocentini 2010) The sense “success, favourable reception” owes something to the French word: DEI calls the use since the 18th century a gallicism, and the GDLI compares the French word for the modern senses.^(DEI|3669)^(GDLI|20, 477)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Domenico Cavalca, before 1342, uses it for an event or for a succession of events in time: he writes of a ''continuo successo di prosperità'', an unbroken run of prosperity, and ''per successo di tempo'', “in the course of time”.^(DELI 1999)^(Tommaseo–Bellini 1861)^(GDLI|20, 477)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Until the middle of the 17th century ''successo'' meant “event” or “outcome”, often with a qualifier such as ''buono'' or ''felice'', or ''cattivo'' for a bad one;^(DELI 1999) Machiavelli uses it for “outcome” in 1504.^(DELI 1999) The absolute use for a happy outcome appears in Giovanni Della Casa before 1556, but it remains isolated: it spread first in the language of historians and diplomats and then, in the 18th century, into common Italian.^(DELI 1999)

+

+ In modern Italian the word means success and public acclaim, and also a hit record or a best-selling book; the old sense “outcome” is now rare.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Wiktionary) The opposite ''insuccesso'' “failure” is recorded from 1869.^(Nocentini 2010)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * Before 1342 – Domenico Cavalca uses ''successo'' for an event.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1504 – Machiavelli uses it for “outcome, result”.^(DELI 1999)

+ * Before 1556 – Giovanni Della Casa uses it for a favourable outcome.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 18th century – “Success” becomes the common meaning.^(DELI 1999)^(DEI|3669)

+ * 1869 – ''Insuccesso'' is first recorded.^(Nocentini 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # [[m|en|success]]: a favourable outcome: ''L'operazione si è conclusa con successo.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Public approval or acclaim, and the fame of someone who has it: ''il successo di critica di un film''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)

+ # A work or product that has won public favour, a [[m|en|hit]]: ''i successi musicali dell'estate''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A win in a sporting competition.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)

+ # ''(uncommon)'' Outcome, result, good or bad.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+ # ''(literary, rare)'' An event, ''in successo di tempo'': in the course of time.^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Treccani 2011)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[insuccesso]]

+ * [[successone]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[succedere]]

+ * [[successione]]

+ * [[successivo]]

+ * [[successore]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ ''Successo'' is also the past participle of [[succedere]] “to happen”, as in ''Che cosa è successo?'' “What happened?”.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}