inizio Italian · revision 37865

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=early 13th century, Ritmo cassinese|origins=la eō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /iˈnit.t͡sjo/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''inizio''' ''m'' (plural inizi)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is a learned word, [[bor|la|initium|t=beginning, (plural) mysteries]].^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010)^(GRADIT 2003)^(Zingarelli 2010) The Latin noun is formed on [[m|la|ineō|t=to go into, enter; to begin]], from [[m|la|in-|t=in]] and [[m|la|eō|t=to go]].^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010)^(Wiktionary)^(Devoto 1968) Its derivative [[m|la|initiō|t=to initiate]] first referred to admission to religious mysteries and only later meant “to begin”.^(DELI 1999)^(DEI|2036) [[es|inicio]] is the same borrowing.^(Nocentini 2010)

+

+ Popular continuations are rare: DEI and REW name [[sc|binittu]], in Logudorese the loop of a rope thrown round the post at threshing, and [[m|sc|inghizzai|t=to begin]] in Campidanese.^(DEI|2036)^(REW 1935) The verb [[iniziare]] in a half-learned form is widespread in northern dialects, often in the sense “to cut into a food for the first time”, which DELI finds already in Late Latin.^(DEI|2036)^(DELI 1999)

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+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The TLIO's first record is in the ''Ritmo cassinese'', from the early 13th century, in the sense “the first moment or stage of something”.^(TLIO) DELI's first sure record is in Dante's ''Commedia'' (1313–1319); an earlier example in the ''Convivio'' is doubtful.^(DELI 1999) GRADIT gives 1313–1319.^(GRADIT 2003)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In Old Italian the word also meant the origin or cause of something, the starting point of a space, the first teachings of a subject and, in the plural, pagan mysteries.^(TLIO) In 1869 Tommaseo thought ''inizio'' rare in use, though ''iniziare'' and ''iniziale'' were common, and preferred ''principio'' for the beginning of being.^(Tommaseo–Bellini 1861) Since then it has become a basic word: GRADIT marks it as part of the fundamental vocabulary.^(GRADIT 2003) DELI dates the sense “initial phase” to 1889, in D'Annunzio, and the plural ''gli inizi'' “the early days” is now common.^(DELI 1999)^(GRADIT 2003)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * Early 13th century – The ''Ritmo cassinese'' uses the word.^(TLIO)

+ * 1313–1319 – Dante uses it in the ''Commedia''.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1869 – Tommaseo calls the word rare in current use.^(Tommaseo–Bellini 1861)

+ * 1889 – D'Annunzio uses it for “initial phase”.^(DELI 1999)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # [[m|en|beginning]], [[m|en|start]], the act of starting: ''Il fischio d'inizio è alle tre.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+ # the point where something begins: ''all'inizio del sentiero''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Treccani 2011)

+ # the first stage or opening part of something: ''l'inizio del film'', ''inizio estate''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+ # (plural) the early days, origins: ''gli inizi del cinema sonoro''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+ # ''(colloquial)'' a first sign: ''un inizio di influenza''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[iniziale]]

+ * [[inizialmente]]

+ * [[iniziare]]

+ * [[iniziativa]]

+ * [[iniziato]]

+ * [[iniziatore]]

+ * [[iniziazione]]

+ * [[iniziatico]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[principio]]

+ * [[la|initium]]

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+ ==Usage notes==

+ Common phrases are ''all'inizio'' “at first”, ''dare inizio a'' “to start” and ''avere inizio'' “to begin”.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Treccani 2011)^(Gabrielli 2020)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}