segreto Italian · revision 37928

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=mid-13th century|origins=la cernō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /seˈɡre.to/, /seˈɡrɛ.to/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''segreto''' (feminine segreta, masculine plural segreti, feminine plural segrete, superlative segretissimo)^(Wiktionary)

+ Old and literary forms include [[roa-oit|secreto]], [[roa-oit|sacreto]], [[roa-oit|sagreto]] and [[roa-oit|secrito]].^(GDLI|18, 498) ''Secreto'' is still a literary variant.^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is a learned word, [[bor|la|sēcrētus|t=separated, set apart; hidden]] for the adjective and its neuter used as a noun, [[m|la|sēcrētum|t=a secluded place; a secret thing]], for the noun.^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010)^(GRADIT 2003)^(Wiktionary) The Latin adjective is the past participle of [[m|la|sēcernō|t=to separate, set apart]], made up of [[m|la|sē-|t=apart]] and [[m|la|cernō|t=to sift, distinguish]].^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010)^(Wikizionario)^(OLD 2012)

+

+ DEI and Devoto hold that the word reached Tuscan through the northern dialects, which explains the voiced /ɡ/ in place of the Latin /k/ of the cluster.^(DEI|3443)^(Devoto 1968)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026) The same Latin word gave [[fr|secret]] and [[es|secreto]];^(Nocentini 2010) it survives in popular form in [[ro|secret|t=deserted, desolate]] and was borrowed as [[sga|secreit]] and into Albanian, where [[sq|shkretë]] means “desolate; orphaned”.^(DEI|3443)^(REW 1935) It also gave [[vec|sagredo]].^(DEI|3443)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ DELI's first record is the noun, in Dante's ''Vita nuova'' (1293–1294), for a thing kept hidden in one's own heart.^(DELI 1999) The GDLI quotes the passage: “lo mio secreto non era comunicato lo giorno altrui per mia vista” (my secret had not been revealed to others that day by my looks).^(GDLI|18, 498) The adjective “hidden, not to be revealed” appears at the end of the 13th century in the ''Novellino'', where a hermit writes to “a suo amico secreto”, a trusted friend.^(DELI 1999)^(GDLI|18, 498) GRADIT dates the adjective to about 1250 and the noun to the first half of the 13th century.^(GRADIT 2003)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Dante also used the adjective for “secluded, out of the way”, as in “per un secreto calle” (along a hidden path), and the noun for “the inmost part” (1304–1308).^(DELI 1999)^(GRADIT 2003) The sense “a person who can keep a confidence” is recorded from Varchi (before 1565), “a special method or trick” from Pulci (1483), and “a lock mechanism with a secret combination” from Tommaseo's dictionary (1873).^(DELI 1999) In old Florence a ''segreto'' was also a secluded room, and the office of the officials called the ''ufficiali del segreto''.^(Prati 1951|906)

+

+ The derivative [[la-med|secretarius]] was formed, one to whom confidential matters are entrusted (1281–1288, Salimbene), and Italian ''segretario'' follows from Boccaccio (before 1375), with ''segreteria'' (before 1535) and ''segreteria telefonica'' “answering machine” (1969).^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010) The feminine ''segreta'' became a steel cap worn under the helmet (15th century) and a windowless prison cell (1525).^(DELI 1999) Today the noun forms legal and political terms such as ''segreto professionale'' and ''segreto di Stato'', and the adjective ''servizi segreti'', ''agente segreto'' and ''voto segreto''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Treccani 2011)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1281–1288 – Salimbene uses Medieval Latin ''secretarius''.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1293–1294 – Dante's ''Vita nuova'' has the noun ''secreto''.^(DELI 1999)^(GDLI|18, 498)

+ * Late 13th century – The adjective appears in the ''Novellino''.^(DELI 1999)

+ * Before 1375 – Boccaccio uses ''secretario'' for a prince's trusted man.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1483 – Pulci uses ''segreto'' for a special method or trick.^(DELI 1999)

+ * Before 1529 – Castiglione uses ''segretezza''.^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010)

+ * 1873 – Tommaseo's dictionary records the sense “secret lock mechanism”.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1969 – ''Segreteria telefonica'' is recorded for the answering machine.^(DELI 1999)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A [[m|en|secret]]: something known to few that must not be revealed: ''Mi ha confidato un segreto che non posso dirti.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Wiktionary)

+ # The secret of something: a [[m|en|method]] or trick known to few that brings success: ''il segreto di una buona torta''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+ # [[m|en|secrecy]], confidentiality, ''segreto professionale'': professional secrecy.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+ # A concealed mechanism of a lock that opens only with a combination; a hidden drawer in a piece of furniture.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+ # ''(literary)'' The inmost part: ''nel segreto del cuore'', in one's heart of hearts.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Hidden from view or from others' knowledge: ''un passaggio segreto''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+ # Done in secret, [[m|en|clandestine]]: ''una riunione segreta''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+ # Confidential, accessible only to a few: ''un dossier segreto''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+ # ''(figurative)'' Kept deep inside: ''un desiderio segreto''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+ # Of a person: concealing their identity or role: ''agente segreto'', a secret agent.^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Gabrielli 2020)

+ # ''(uncommon)'' [[m|en|discreet]], able to keep a confidence.^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+ # ''(literary)'' Secluded, out of the way: Dante's “per un secreto calle”.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Treccani 2011)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[segretario]]

+ * [[segreteria]]

+ * [[segretariato]]

+ * [[sottosegretario]]

+ * [[segretezza]]

+ * [[segreta]]

+ * [[segretamente]]

+ * [[segretare]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[secernere]]

+ * [[la|secretus]]

+ * [[fr|secret]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ ''In segreto'' means “secretly”, and ''segreto di Pulcinella'' is an open secret, something meant to be secret that everyone knows.^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Gabrielli 2020)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}