aiuto Italian · revision 37691

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=late 12th century, Ritmo di Sant'Alessio|origins=la adiuvō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /aˈju.to/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''aiuto''' ''m'' (plural aiuti)^(Wiktionary)

+ Older forms include [[roa-oit|adiuto]], [[roa-oit|agiuto]] and the southern [[roa-oit|ajutu]].^(TLIO)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|la-lat|adiūtus|t=help]], an action noun from [[m|la|adiuvō|t=to help]], whose past participle has the same form.^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010)^(Wiktionary)^(Devoto 1968|25) GRADIT relates it to the frequentative [[m|la|adiūtō]], the source of [[aiutare]].^(GRADIT 2003)^(TLIO) The other Romance languages use feminine nouns formed from the verb instead: [[oc|ajuda]], [[fro|aiude]] (now [[fr|aide]]), [[es|ayuda]] and [[pt|ajuda]].^(Körting 1907)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The TLIO's first record is in the ''Ritmo di Sant'Alessio'', a text of the Marche from the late 12th century.^(TLIO) DELI's first date is before 1249, in Pier della Vigna, for work done on behalf of someone in danger or need.^(DELI 1999) GDLI quotes him: “se da voi, donna mia, aiuto non aggio” (if I have no help from you, my lady).^(GDLI)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The cry ''aiuto!'' is in Boccaccio's ''Decameron'' (1348–1353), and the sense “person who helps another in a task or office” in Tuscan proclamations of 1577.^(DELI 1999) DEI records a medieval ''aiuto'' for the extraordinary levy the Norman kings demanded in time of need.^(DEI|63) Modern specialised uses include the plural ''aiuti'' for auxiliary troops and for relief supplies, the riding ''aiuti'' by which a rider signals to the horse, and the hospital doctor ranking below the head of a department.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Treccani 2011)^(Devoto–Oli 2026) Before the name of a trade it forms terms such as ''aiuto regista'' “assistant director” and ''aiuto cuoco''.^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Treccani 2011)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * Late 12th century – The ''Ritmo di Sant'Alessio'' has the first record.^(TLIO)

+ * 1219 – Devoto–Oli's date of first record.^(Devoto–Oli 2026)

+ * Before 1249 – Pier della Vigna uses ''aiuto'' “help”.^(DELI 1999)^(GDLI)

+ * 1348–1353 – Boccaccio uses ''aiuto!'' as a cry.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1577 – ''Aiuto'' “assistant” appears in Tuscan proclamations.^(DELI 1999)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # [[m|en|help]], [[m|en|assistance]] given to someone in difficulty or danger: ''Grazie dell’aiuto con il trasloco.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+ # Something or someone that helps; financial support; in the plural, relief supplies: ''Gli aiuti sono arrivati dopo tre giorni.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+ # An [[m|en|assistant]]; in hospitals, formerly the doctor below the head of a department; before the name of a job: ''aiuto cuoco''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Treccani 2011)

+ # ''(military, plural)'' Auxiliary troops.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Treccani 2011)

+ # ''(riding, usually plural)'' The rider's signals to the horse with hands, legs, weight and voice.^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)

+

+ ===Interjection===

+ # A cry for help: ''Aiuto! Non so nuotare!''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[aiutino]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[aiutare]]

+ * [[aiutante]]

+ * [[la|adiuvo]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}