basta Italian · revision 37621

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=13th century, anonymous Tuscan poem}}

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+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /ˈbas.ta/^(Wiktionary)

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+ ==Etymology==

+ It is the third person singular present of [[bastare|t=to be enough]], “it is enough”, used as an exclamation.^(DEI|454)^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Treccani 2011)^(TLIO) Devoto–Oli calls it the imperative, and Zingarelli sees both the impersonal and the imperative in it.^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010) DEI notes that it corresponds to and replaced [[la|sufficiō|alt=sufficit|t=it is enough]], and GRADIT compares [[fr|suffire|alt=il suffit]].^(DEI|454)^(GRADIT 2003)

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+ The origin of the verb is unknown according to DELI.^(DELI 1999) Most sources derive it from [[la-vul|*bastō|alt=*bastāre]], from [[grc|βαστάζω|tr=bastázō|t=to carry, bear]], passing from “carry” through “endure, last” to “suffice”.^(Nocentini 2010)^(DEI|455)^(LEI|5, 96)^(Wiktionary) Others proposed a link with ⟨*bastum⟩ “stick”, “to serve as a support”, or, with Devoto, with [[basto|t=pack-saddle]], the load a pack-saddle can carry.^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010)

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+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The TLIO records the exclamation in an anonymous Tuscan poem of the 13th century, with the sense “stop!, that is enough!”.^(TLIO) DEI dates it to the early 16th century, and DELI and GRADIT to John Florio's dictionary of 1598.^(DEI|454)^(DELI 1999)^(GRADIT 2003)

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+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Old Italian also used ''basta'' as an adverb, “enough”.^(DEI|454) It also became a conjunction, “provided that”, and ''basta che'' with the subjunctive.^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Gabrielli 2020) In the north ''ma basta là!'' expresses surprise.^(Zingarelli 2010) Phrases include ''punto e basta'' “and that's that” and ''dire basta'' “to say enough”.^(GRADIT 2003)

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+ The exclamation went into other languages: French ''baste'' (1532, used by Rabelais) and later ''basta'' (1830–1836), English ''basta'' (1596) and German ''basta'' (1610).^(DIFIT)^(DEI|454) Norwegian Bokmål also borrowed it.^(Wiktionary)

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+ ==Timeline==

+ * 13th century – An anonymous Tuscan poem uses ''basta!''.^(TLIO)

+ * 1532 – French ''baste'' is recorded.^(DIFIT)

+ * Before 1543 – An Italian use as an order to be silent is recorded.^(DIFIT)

+ * 1596 – English ''basta'' is recorded.^(DIFIT)

+ * 1598 – John Florio's dictionary records ''basta''.^(DELI 1999)^(GRADIT 2003)

+ * 1610 – German ''basta'' is recorded.^(DIFIT)

+ * 1830–1836 – French ''basta'' is recorded.^(DIFIT)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Interjection===

+ # [[m|en|enough]]!, stop!: ''Basta con le scuse!''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Treccani 2011)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Closes a digression or introduces a conclusion: ''Basta, parliamo d'altro.''^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)

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+ ===Conjunction===

+ # [[m|en|provided]] that, as long as (also ''basta che''): ''Puoi uscire, basta che torni per cena.''^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Gabrielli 2020)

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+ ==Related words==

+ * [[bastare]]

+ * [[abbastanza]]

+ * [[basto]]

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+ ==Usage notes==

+ A separate ''basta'' is a tailoring term, a tacking stitch or a deep hem that lets a garment be lengthened; it comes from ''bastire'' “to baste”, of Germanic origin.^(DELI 1999)^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026) It is recorded at Forlì in 1359.^(DELI 1999)

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+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}