sera Italian · revision 37710

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=late 13th century, Novellino|origins=la sērus}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /ˈse.ra/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''sera''' ''f'' (plural sere)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|la-lat|sēra]], short for the classical phrase ⟨sera dies⟩ “late day”, the feminine of the adjective [[la|sērus|t=late]], used as a noun.^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010)^(GRADIT 2003)^(Treccani 2011) DEI notes that the Late Latin noun is found in the Peregrinatio, and that it took the place of [[m|la|vesper|t=evening]] when that word became part of the language of the Church.^(DEI|3458) The same noun is [[sc|sera]], [[rm|saira]], [[fur|sere]], [[dlm|saira]] and [[ro|seară]], while [[fr|soir]], [[oc|ser]] and Logudorese [[m|sc|sero]] continue the Latin adverb [[m|la|sērō|t=late]].^(Nocentini 2010)^(REW 1935)^(DEI|3458)

+

+ The origin of the Latin adjective is uncertain.^(DELI 1999)^(GDLI|18, 707) Nocentini compares [[sga|sír|t=long]] and [[sa|सायम्|tr=sāyám|t=evening]], and observes that the meaning “evening” is never the original one but comes from “day that goes on late”, as with [[es|tarde]] and [[pt|tarde]] “afternoon, evening”.^(Nocentini 2010)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ DELI's first record is in the ''Novellino'', at the end of the 13th century, in the sense “the late part of the day, from sunset to the beginning of night”.^(DELI 1999) Dante has it in the ''Purgatorio'': “Lo sol sen va, soggiunse, e vien la sera” (the sun is going, he added, and evening is coming).^(GDLI|18, 707)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In Boccaccio and Ariosto ''sera'' can also mean the night.^(DEI|3458) The figurative sense “old age, the end of life” is literary;^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026) Petrarch speaks of finishing his day “inanzi sera”, before evening.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026) The derivative ''serata'' is recorded before 1571 in Benvenuto Cellini, and in the sense “evening party, reception” from 1832, after French ''soirée'';^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010) ''serale'' was called “a word in use” in 1805, and ''stasera'' “this evening”, from ''questa sera'', dates from the 14th century.^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010)

+

+ In much of the south, in Liguria and in Monferrato, ''sera'' is also an adverb meaning “yesterday evening”, shortened from ''ieri sera''.^(DEI|3458)^(REW 1935) The greeting ''buona sera'' is used in some regions from early afternoon.^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Treccani 2011) The weather proverb ''rosso di sera, bel tempo si spera'' promises fine weather after a red sunset.^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Treccani 2011)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * Late 13th century – The ''Novellino'' has ''sera'' “evening”.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 14th century – ''Stasera'' “this evening” is recorded.^(Nocentini 2010)

+ * Before 1571 – Benvenuto Cellini uses ''serata''.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1805 – ''Serale'' “of the evening” is recorded.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1832 – ''Serata'' “evening party” appears in the Milanese press, after French ''soirée''.^(DELI 1999)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # [[m|en|evening]], the part of the day between [[m|en|sunset]] and nightfall: ''Verso sera il vento si calmò.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)

+ # ''(by extension)'' The time from dinner until about midnight: ''Il sabato sera andiamo a ballare.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)

+ # ''(by extension)'' The late afternoon: ''le sei della sera''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)

+ # ''(figurative, literary)'' The last part of life, old age; the end of something.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[serale]]

+ * [[serata]]

+ * [[stasera]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[la|sērus]]

+ * [[fr|soir]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Set phrases include ''di sera'' “in the evening”, ''da mattina a sera'' “all day long”, ''abito da sera'' “evening dress” and ''sul far della sera'' “at nightfall”.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Treccani 2011)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}