deciso Italian · revision 37943

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=c. 1319, Dante|origins=la caedō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /deˈt͡ʃi.zo/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''deciso''' (feminine decisa, masculine plural decisi, feminine plural decise, superlative decisissimo, adverb decisamente)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is the past participle of [[decidere]], used as an adjective.^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Treccani 2011) The verb is a learned word, from [[la|dēcīdō|t=to cut off; to settle]], whose participle is [[m|la|dēcīsus]]; the Latin verb is made of [[m|la|dē-|t=away from]] and [[m|la|caedō|t=to cut]].^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010)^(GRADIT 2003)^(DEI|1226)

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+ The sense “resolute, determined” is probably due to [[fr|décidé|t=firm, resolute]].^(GDLI)^(DELI 1999)^(DEI|1226)

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+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ In Old Italian the participle meant “cut off, separated”.^(LEI|19, 540)^(TLIO) The LEI's first example is Dante (about 1319), whose line “da quello odiare ogni affetto è deciso” says that every affection is cut off from hating God.^(LEI|19, 540)^(Tommaseo–Bellini 1861|2, 62) The TLIO's first record is Jacopo della Lana's Bolognese commentary on Dante (1324–1328).^(TLIO)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Old Italian also used it of halting speech, in Paduan (before 1389), and as an adverb “with interruptions”.^(TLIO)^(LEI|19, 540) The sense “settled, decided” (of a question) is recorded in 1672, and “resolute, energetic” (of a person) before 1797, in Pietro Verri.^(DELI 1999) Purists such as Tommaseo, Fanfani and Rigutini objected to the second, because a matter, not a person, is decided: it followed the French way of speaking.^(DELI 1999)

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+ From the late 18th century ''deciso'' is a musical direction, “decisively”, and English and German took it over in this sense.^(DIFIT) Today it also describes a clear-cut outline or a strong colour or flavour.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026) The adverb is ''decisamente'', which also means “certainly”.^(Zingarelli 2010)

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+ ==Timeline==

+ * About 1319 – Dante uses ''deciso'' for “cut off, separated”.^(LEI|19, 540)

+ * 1324–1328 – Jacopo della Lana uses it in his commentary on Dante.^(TLIO)

+ * 1672 – It is first recorded in the sense “settled, decided”.^(DELI 1999)^(DIFIT)

+ * 1777 – It is recorded as a musical direction.^(DIFIT)

+ * Before 1797 – Pietro Verri uses it for “resolute, energetic”.^(DELI 1999)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # [[m|en|resolute]], determined, firm (of a person): ''È una ragazza decisa, sa sempre quello che vuole.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Treccani 2011)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Showing resolve (of a gesture, an answer, a step): ''Rispose con un no deciso.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Treccani 2011)

+ # ''deciso a'': ready, set on doing something: ''Erano decisi a partire prima dell'alba.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+ # Clear-cut, [[m|en|marked]] (of an outline), strong (of a colour or flavour): ''un rosso deciso''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+ # Settled, decided (of a question).^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Gabrielli 2020)

+ # ''(obsolete)'' Cut off, separated.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[indeciso]]

+ * [[decisamente]]

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+ ==Related words==

+ * [[decidere]]

+ * [[decisione]]

+ * [[decisivo]]

+ * [[fr|décidé]]

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+ ==Usage notes==

+ As a musical direction, ''deciso'' asks for a firm, decisive delivery.^(DIFIT)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}