tardi Italian · revision 37781

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=1304–1308, Dante|origins=la tardus}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /ˈtar.di/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''tardi''' (adverb; superlative ''tardissimo'').^(GDLI)^(Treccani 2011) The old form [[roa-oit|tarde]] is recorded from the 13th to the 15th century.^(DEI|3720)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|la|tardē|t=slowly; late]], the adverb of [[m|la|tardus|t=slow]], originally an instrumental case form.^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010)^(GRADIT 2003)^(Wiktionary) Sabatini explains the final /i/ as the ending felt to be typical of adverbs.^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026) The word belongs to Italian, Dalmatian and western Romance: [[dlm|tierd]], [[fur|tart]], [[fr|tard]], [[oc|tard]], [[ca|tard]], [[es|tarde]] and [[pt|tarde]].^(DEI|3720)^(Nocentini 2010)^(REW 1935) In Spanish and Portuguese it also means “evening”, and Old Italian had that sense too.^(Nocentini 2010)^(REW 1935)

+

+ De Vaan finds no etymology for [[m|la|tardus]]: the comparison with [[grc|τέρυ|tr=téru|t=weak]] and [[sa|तरुण|tr=táruṇa|t=young]] is unconvincing in meaning and impossible in form.^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ DELI's first record is in Dante's ''Convivio'' (1304–1308), in the sense “at a late hour”, the date GRADIT gives;^(DELI 1999)^(GRADIT 2003) “after the right or agreed time” is in the ''Commedia'' (1300–1313).^(DELI 1999)^(GRADIT 2003) Virgil tells Dante “Nacqui sub Iulio, ancor che fosse tardi” (I was born under Julius, though it was late).^(Tommaseo–Bellini 1861)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The Latin sense “slowly” lived on in the old language and is now obsolete.^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Gabrielli 2020) Boccaccio used ''tardi'' as a noun for “a late hour”, a use that survives in ''sul tardi'' “late in the day”.^(DEI|3720)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026) The diminutives ''tardetto'' (16th century, Firenzuola) and ''tardino'' (1879) are recorded.^(DEI|3720)

+

+ Modern Italian uses it in many set phrases: ''fare tardi'' “to be late; to stay up late”, ''tirare tardi'' (regional) “to stay up into the small hours”, ''presto o tardi'' “sooner or later”, ''al più tardi'' “at the latest” and the leave-taking ''a più tardi'' “see you later”.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Treccani 2011) Proverbs include ''meglio tardi che mai'' and ''chi tardi arriva male alloggia'' (late arrivals get the worst lodging).^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Treccani 2011)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1300–1313 – Dante's ''Commedia'' uses it for “after the right time”.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1304–1308 – Dante's ''Convivio'' uses it for “at a late hour”.^(DELI 1999)^(GRADIT 2003)

+ * 16th century – Agnolo Firenzuola uses the diminutive ''tardetto''.^(DEI|3720)

+ * 1879 – The diminutive ''tardino'' is recorded.^(DEI|3720)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adverb===

+ # [[m|en|late]], after the expected, agreed or proper time: ''Il treno è arrivato tardi di mezz'ora.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+ # At a late hour: ''Domenica ci siamo alzati tardi.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+ # ''(più tardi)'' [[m|en|later]], after a while: ''Ne parliamo più tardi.''^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Treccani 2011)

+ # ''(obsolete)'' Slowly.^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Gabrielli 2020)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[tardino]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[tardo]]

+ * [[tardare]]

+ * [[ritardo]]

+ * [[attardarsi]]

+ * [[la|tardus]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}