mano Italian · revision 37708

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=late 12th century, Ritmo laurenziano|origins=itc-pro *manus}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /ˈma.no/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''mano''' ''f'' (plural mani or (archaic or dialectal) mano, diminutive manìna, augmentative manóna, pejorative manàccia, endearing-derogatory manùccia)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|la|manus|t=hand]], from the accusative ⟨manum⟩.^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010)^(GRADIT 2003)^(Wiktionary) The word lives on in every Romance language, as [[fr|main]], [[oc|man]], [[ca|mà]], [[es|mano]], [[pt|mão]], [[sc|manu]], [[fur|man]], [[rm|maun]], [[dlm|mun]] and [[ro|mână]].^(Nocentini 2010)^(REW 1935) DÉRom reconstructs a Proto-Romance feminine ⟨*/ˈman-u/⟩ and notes that most Romance languages kept its odd shape, a feminine ending in /-u/;^(DÉRom) Romanian and the dialects of central and southern Italy also kept the old plural ending in /-u/.^(DÉRom)

+

+ In the standard language the pattern ⟨la mano, le mani⟩ settled only late: Ariosto first wrote the etymological plural ⟨le mano⟩ and then removed it, and Cellini used the regularised ⟨la mana, le mane⟩.^(DELI 1999)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026) The plural ⟨mani⟩ continues the Latin plural ⟨manūs⟩.^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+

+ The Latin noun has exact counterparts only in the western Indo-European languages, since words for the hand are often renewed: [[osc|manim]] (accusative), [[xum|mani]], and Germanic words for hand and protection such as [[goh|munt]] and [[non|mund|t=hand]].^(Nocentini 2010)^(DELI 1999)^(de Vaan 2008) De Vaan reconstructs [[itc-pro|*manus]] and [[ine-pro|*mon-u-|t=hand]];^(de Vaan 2008)^(Wiktionary) Wiktionary also reports a derivation from the root [[m|ine-pro|*(s)meh₂-|t=to beckon]].^(de Vaan 2008)^(Wiktionary) Nocentini stresses the transferred sense “protection, power” in the language of Roman law.^(Nocentini 2010)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ DELI's earliest record is figurative: ''mano'' “side” in the ''Ritmo laurenziano'' at the end of the 12th century.^(DELI 1999) The anatomical sense, the hand itself, is first recorded in a Florentine account book of 1211.^(DELI 1999)^(GRADIT 2003)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Many senses of the Latin word continued in Italian, among them, as DELI notes, the technical sense in card games, for which Vittore Pisani pointed to similar metaphors in India.^(DELI 1999) Italian records ''mano'' “handwriting” in the 13th or 14th century, “power” in Iacopo Passavanti in 1354, “handful” in the Tuscan Crescenzi of about 1350, and “coat (of paint)” in Cennino Cennini in the 15th century.^(DELI 1999) In cards, the first player's turn is ''mano'' before 1535 in Francesco Berni, and the whole deal from 1916.^(DELI 1999) An Old Abruzzese ''mano d'uova'' was a group of five eggs (1398), after the number of fingers.^(DEI|2351)

+

+ Idioms see the hand as giving, guiding, striking, working, or as being near and ready.^(DELI 1999) The phrase ''mettere la mano sul fuoco'' “to swear to something” was explained in 1688 by the medieval trial by fire, in which the accused had to hold red-hot iron.^(DELI 1999) Among the derivatives, ''maneggiare'' “to handle” is recorded between 1298 and 1309, and its noun ''maneggio'' gave French ''manège'' “riding school”.^(DELI 1999)^(REW 1935)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * Late 12th century – The ''Ritmo laurenziano'' uses ''mano'' “side”.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1211 – A Florentine account book has ''mano'' “hand”.^(DELI 1999)^(GRADIT 2003)

+ * 1298–1309 – ''Maneggiare'' “to handle” appears in a statute of the wool guild of Siena.^(DELI 1999)

+ * C. 1350 – The Tuscan Crescenzi uses ''mano'' “handful”.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1354 – Iacopo Passavanti uses ''mano'' “power”.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1398 – ''Mano d'uova'' “five eggs” is recorded at Teramo.^(DEI|2351)

+ * 15th century – Cennino Cennini uses ''mano'' for a coat of paint.^(DELI 1999)

+ * Before 1535 – Francesco Berni uses ''mano'' in card play.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1688 – ''Mettere la mano sul fuoco'' is explained by the trial by fire.^(DELI 1999)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # [[m|en|hand]], the end of the arm, with the [[m|en|palm]], the back and the five fingers, used for grasping and touching: ''Lavati le mani prima di mangiare.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+ # ''(figurative)'' The [[m|en|style]] or touch by which a person's work is recognised: ''In questo affresco si riconosce la mano del maestro.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(figurative)'' [[m|en|handwriting]].^(GRADIT 2003)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Either side, right or left: ''la seconda strada a mano sinistra''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Each of the two directions of traffic on a road.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(card games)'' A [[m|en|deal]], one round in which all the cards are dealt and played; also a round of other games.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A [[m|en|coat]] of paint or varnish: ''Alla porta serve un'altra mano di vernice.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(figurative)'' Help: ''dare una mano''.^(Wiktionary)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)

+ # ''(literary)'' A small group of people, a band.^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[manata]]

+ * [[manciata]]

+ * [[manesco]]

+ * [[manetta]]

+ * [[maneggiare]]

+ * [[mandritta]]

+ * [[manforte]]

+ * [[manodopera]]

+ * [[manrovescio]]

+ * [[contromano]]

+ * [[sottomano]]

+ * [[asciugamano]]

+ * [[baciamano]]

+ * [[corrimano]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[amanuense]]

+ * [[comandare]]

+ * [[commendare]]

+ * [[domandare]]

+ * [[emancipare]]

+ * [[mallevare]]

+ * [[manuale]]

+ * [[manipolo]]

+ * [[la|manus]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ ''Mano'' is feminine although it ends in ''-o'', and its plural is ''le mani''; regional and old forms are ''la mana'' and ''le mane''.^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(GDLI|9, 702) Before another word it is often shortened to ''man'', as in ''a man bassa'' and ''man mano''.^(Devoto–Oli 2026) Common phrases include ''dare una mano'' “to help”, ''alla mano'' “informal, easy-going”, ''a mani vuote'' “empty-handed” and ''fuori mano'' “out of the way”.^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(GRADIT 2003)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}