signora Italian · revision 37612

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=before 1503, Gallo, Rime|origins=la senex}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /siɲˈɲo.ra/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''signora''' ''f'' (plural signore, masculine signore, diminutive signorìna, augmentative signoróna (“rich woman”))^(Wiktionary)

+ The old form is [[roa-oit|segnora]].^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Treccani 2011) Shortened forms include Italian ''sora'', Friulian ⟨siore⟩ and Venetian ⟨siora⟩.^(REW 1935)^(DEI|3493)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is the feminine of [[signore]].^(DELI 1999)^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026) Wiktionary takes it from [[la-med|seniōra]], a feminine of the Latin comparative.^(Wiktionary) The same feminine is [[es|señora]] and [[pt|senhora]], while Old Occitan, Old Spanish and Old Portuguese used both the masculine form and a feminine in ⟨-ora⟩ for a woman.^(REW 1935)

+

+ The masculine noun continues [[la|senior|t=older]], the comparative of [[m|la|senex|t=old]].^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010) In late Latin the comparative became a title, and in the Lex Salica and the Visigothic laws it referred to men of higher rank, the nobles;^(DELI 1999)^(DEI|3493) Reto Bezzola, quoted by DELI, thought that the title may have come to Italy from France.^(DELI 1999)^(DEI|3493)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ DELI's first record of ''signora'' is in the ''Rime'' of Gallo, before 1503, in the sense “mistress, ruler”;^(DELI 1999)^(DIFIT) Nocentini, Devoto–Oli and Sabatini–Coletti date the word to the 16th century.^(Nocentini 2010)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026) DEI records an older ''signoressa'' “lady” in the 14th century.^(DEI|3493)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In the 16th century ''signore'' spread as a title under Spanish influence;^(DELI 1999) Ariosto complained in 1519 that it was given even to foreigners and courtesans.^(DELI 1999) ''Signora'' is used for a wife in Aretino (1534), for a woman in general in Giorgio Vasari (1562), and as a title of respect for a married woman in Paolo Segneri (1686).^(DELI 1999) Tommaseo–Bellini (1873) notes that a husband's wife was called ''la signora'' when one was not on familiar terms, and in 1905 Panzini found this bourgeois use affected.^(DELI 1999)

+

+ The senses “mistress of the house” (for servants, 1853) and “rich woman” (1873) are 19th-century records, “refined woman” is dated 1960.^(DELI 1999) ''Nostra Signora'' is the Virgin Mary, and ''la (vecchia) Signora'' the Turin football club Juventus.^(Zingarelli 2010)^(GRADIT 2003)^(Treccani 2011) French borrowed ''signora'' in 1661–1678, English in 1636 (as ''Signiora'') and German in 1806.^(DIFIT)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * Before 1503 – Gallo uses ''signora'' for a ruling woman.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1534 – Pietro Aretino uses it for “wife”.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1562 – Giorgio Vasari uses it for a woman in general.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1636 – English ''Signiora'' is first recorded.^(DIFIT)

+ * 1686 – Paolo Segneri uses it as a title of a married woman.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1806 – German ''Signora'' is recorded.^(DIFIT)

+ * 1873 – Tommaseo–Bellini records the sense “rich woman”.^(DELI 1999)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A title of courtesy for a woman, especially a married one, before the surname, first name or title, or used alone in address: [[m|en|madam]], Mrs: ''Buonasera, signora Bianchi.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+ # A woman, said with respect: ''C'è una signora che chiede di lei.''^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(GRADIT 2003)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+ # [[m|en|wife]]: ''Il direttore è arrivato con la sua signora.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+ # The mistress of the house, for the servants.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Gabrielli 2020)

+ # A [[m|en|lady]], a refined woman; also a wealthy woman who need not work.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Treccani 2011)

+ # ''(literary)'' A city or power that rules over a territory: ''Venezia, signora dell'Adriatico''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Treccani 2011)

+ # ''(capitalized)'' ''Nostra Signora'', the Virgin Mary.^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Treccani 2011)^(Gabrielli 2020)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[signorina]]

+ * [[signorona]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[signore]]

+ * [[signoria]]

+ * [[signorile]]

+ * [[la|senior]]

+ * [[es|señora]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ In writing ''signora'' is abbreviated ''sig.ra''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026) In answers, ''sì signora'' and ''no signora'' are also written ''sissignora'' and ''nossignora''.^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}