giusto Italian · revision 37634

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=before 1274|origins=la iūs}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /ˈd͡ʒus.to/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''giusto''' (feminine giusta, masculine plural giusti, feminine plural giuste, superlative giustissimo)^(Wiktionary)

+ An old spelling is ''iusto''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Gabrielli 2020)^(Tommaseo–Bellini 1861)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|la|iustus|t=just, lawful]], “in keeping with the law”, from [[m|la|iūs|t=law, right]].^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010)^(GRADIT 2003)^(Wiktionary) The Latin word was both an adjective and, later, a noun.^(DELI 1999) The GDLI calls the Italian word semi-learned.^(GDLI|6, 914) The same word is [[fr|juste]], [[oc|juste]], [[ca|just]], [[es|justo]] and [[pt|justo]];^(Nocentini 2010)^(DEI|1825)^(REW 1935) Romanian lacks it.^(Nocentini 2010)^(DEI|1825)^(REW 1935)

+

+ The Latin adjective is recorded in an old form [[m|la|iouestod]] on an inscription from the Forum.^(de Vaan 2008)^(OLD 2012) Wiktionary takes it from Archaic Latin [[m|la|iovestos]], from the stem of the word for “law” with the suffix [[m|la|-tus]].^(Wiktionary) De Vaan traces that noun to [[itc-pro|*jowos]] “oath, law” and an Indo-European word meaning “vital force”.^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ DEI holds that the adverb in the sense “exactly, precisely” (17th century) is very probably the French adverb, which also passed into German and English; the adverb “justly” was older and is in Dante.^(DEI|1825)

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+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ GRADIT and Nocentini date the word before 1274, in the form ''iusto''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Nocentini 2010) DELI's first record is in Brunetto Latini, before 1294, in the sense “in keeping with justice”, with many other examples from the same century; the noun “righteous person” is in Guittone d'Arezzo at the same time.^(DELI 1999) Guittone writes ''Deletta giusto in giustisia'' (the just man delights in justice).^(GDLI|6, 914)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The sense “not too much and not too little” is in Dante (1304–1308), and “fitting, suitable” in Paolo da Certaldo in the 14th century.^(DELI 1999) “Exact, precise” is dated 1550 (Vasari), though a document from Cagliari already speaks of ''misure juste'' in 1318.^(DELI 1999) Giordano da Pisa, before 1311, applies the word to a judge, and Dante's ''Giusti son due'' (two are just, ''Inferno'' 6) uses it as a noun.^(DELI 1999)^(GDLI|6, 914)

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+ The adverb “exactly” is in Ariosto (1532), and “just, precisely” in Boccalini (before 1613).^(DELI 1999) The noun “what is due by justice” is recorded before 1555.^(DELI 1999) In music ''giusto'' marks a strict tempo or a perfect interval; the musical term passed into French, into English in the 19th century and into German in 1839.^(DIFIT)^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Treccani 2011)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * Before 1274 – The form ''iusto'' is recorded.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Nocentini 2010)

+ * Before 1294 – Brunetto Latini uses ''giusto'' for “in keeping with justice”, Guittone uses it as a noun.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1304–1308 – Dante uses it for “neither too much nor too little”.^(DELI 1999)

+ * Before 1311 – Giordano da Pisa uses it of one who judges justly.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1532 – Ariosto uses the adverb “exactly”.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1550 – Vasari uses it for “exact, precise”.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1839 – The musical term is recorded in German.^(DIFIT)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # [[m|en|just]], [[m|en|fair]]: acting or judging according to justice: ''un arbitro giusto''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+ # In keeping with justice: ''una legge giusta'', ''una giusta punizione''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)

+ # Legitimate, well-founded; deserved: ''una giusta pretesa''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+ # Right, [[m|en|correct]], exact: ''il risultato giusto'', ''l'ora giusta''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Treccani 2011)

+ # Suitable, appropriate: ''è l'uomo giusto per quel posto''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+ # Of the right amount; of clothes, just the right size or slightly tight.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Treccani 2011)

+ # ''(music)'' Of an interval, perfect; of a tempo, strict.^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Treccani 2011)^(DIFIT)

+

+ ===Adverb===

+ # [[m|en|exactly]], correctly: ''hai indovinato giusto''.^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Gabrielli 2020)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Just, [[m|en|precisely]]: ''volevo giusto chiamarti''.^(Gabrielli 2020)^(Wiktionary)^(DELI 1999)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # A [[m|en|righteous]] person: ''dormire il sonno del giusto''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Wiktionary)^(Treccani 2011)

+ # What is due or right: ''chiede solo il giusto''.^(DELI 1999)^(Treccani 2011)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[giustamente]]

+ * [[giustezza]]

+ * [[ingiusto]]

+ * [[aggiustare]]

+ * [[aggiustamento]]

+ * [[raggiustare]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[giustizia]]

+ * [[giustificare]]

+ * [[giure]]

+ * [[la|iustus]]

+ * [[fr|juste]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ GRADIT also has an obsolete, literary preposition ''giusto'', a variant of ''giusta'' “according to”, from Latin ''iuxta''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(GDLI|6, 919) Old examples include Chiaro Davanzati's ''a giusto mio podere'' (as far as I can).^(GDLI|6, 919) DELI thinks that ''giusto mezzo'' (the happy medium) depends on French ''juste milieu'' (Pascal, before 1662).^(DELI 1999) Other common phrases are ''giusta causa'' (just cause) and ''il sonno del giusto'' (the sleep of the just).^(GRADIT 2003)

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+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}