mente Italian · revision 37801

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=before 1250, Giacomo da Lentini|origins=ine-pro *méntis}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /ˈmen.te/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''mente''' ''f'' (plural menti)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|la|mēns|alt=mentem|t=mind]], the accusative of the Latin noun.^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010)^(GRADIT 2003)^(Wiktionary)^(REW 1935) DELI and DEI call it a learned word, while Nocentini counts it among the inherited words: it is pan-Romance, with [[sc|mènte]], [[oc|ment]], [[ca|ment]], [[es|mente]], [[pt|mente]] and [[ro|minte]].^(DELI 1999)^(DEI|2425)^(Nocentini 2010)^(REW 1935) The DÉRom reconstructs a Proto-Romance noun for both “mind” and “temple (of the head)”, the latter sense surviving in Aromanian, Corsican and Sardinian.^(DÉRom)

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+ The Latin noun goes back to [[itc-pro|*mn̥ti-]] and [[ine-pro|*méntis|t=thought]], from the root [[ine-pro|*men-|t=to think]].^(de Vaan 2008)^(Wiktionary)^(Nocentini 2010) Cognates are [[sa|मति|tr=matí|t=thought]], [[lt|mintìs|t=thought, idea]] and [[cu|памѧть|tr=pamętĭ|t=memory]]; the same root is in [[la|meminī|t=I remember]] and [[m|la|moneō|t=to remind, warn]].^(de Vaan 2008)^(Nocentini 2010)^(Devoto 1968)

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+ Because [[m|la|mente]] in the ablative was used with adjectives to describe a manner of acting, it became the adverbial suffix [[-mente]] in Italian and most Romance languages.^(REW 1935)^(Körting 1907)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ DELI's first dated sense is “attention of the mind”, in Giacomo da Lentini before 1250.^(DELI 1999) “Intelligence, intellect” follows in Brunetto Latini before 1294, and “memory” in Bonagiunta da Lucca before about 1257.^(DELI 1999)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Guittone d'Arezzo used the word for “good sense, reason” before 1294, and Domenico Cavalca for “intention” before 1342, in his definition of lying as speaking against one's own mind.^(DELI 1999) The sense “person of great intelligence” (''una bella mente'') is recorded by Tommaseo in 1869.^(DELI 1999)^(Zingarelli 2010)

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+ Most of the many modern phrases rest on the sense “memory” (''a mente'', “by heart”, ''uscire di mente'', “to slip one's mind”) or “thought” (''venire in mente'', ''fare mente locale'').^(GRADIT 2003)^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Devoto–Oli 2026) The derived ''mentale'' continues [[la-lat|mentālis]], which Saint Augustine called an absurd new word;^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010) ''mentalità'' (1905) probably came through French [[m|fr|mentalité]].^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * Before 1250 – Giacomo da Lentini uses ''mente'' for attention.^(DELI 1999)

+ * Before about 1257 – Bonagiunta da Lucca uses it for memory.^(DELI 1999)

+ * Before 1294 – Brunetto Latini uses it for the intellect.^(DELI 1999)^(GRADIT 2003)

+ * Before 1342 – Domenico Cavalca uses it for intention.^(DELI 1999)

+ * Before 1380 – Catherine of Siena uses ''mentale''.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1869 – Tommaseo records it for a highly intelligent person.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1905 – ''Mentalità'' is recorded.^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # The [[m|en|mind]], the whole of the intellectual and mental faculties, often contrasted with body or heart: ''Prima di decidere, schiarisciti la mente.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+ # [[m|en|intelligence]], the capacity to understand: ''una mente vivace''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+ # A particular bent of mind: ''una mente matematica''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+ # Attention, thought: ''Non riesco a togliermelo dalla mente.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+ # [[m|en|memory]]: ''imparare a mente''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+ # ''(literary)'' Intention, purpose.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+ # A person of great intelligence; the person who plans an undertaking: ''Era lui la mente della banda.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[mentale]]

+ * [[mentalità]]

+ * [[mentalmente]]

+ * [[mentecatto]]

+ * [[rammentare]]

+ * [[ammentare]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[-mente]]

+ * [[menzione]]

+ * [[la|mēns]]

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+ ==Usage notes==

+ Common set phrases include ''a mente fredda'' (“with a cool head”), ''avere in mente'' (“to have in mind”), ''saltare in mente'' (“to occur to someone”) and ''fare mente locale'' (“to concentrate”).^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}