diritto Italian · revision 37959

+ DELI, GRADIT and DEI give ''diritto'' a numbered entry for the adjective “straight” and another for the noun “law, right”: the adjective is inherited from Vulgar Latin, while DELI and DEI treat the noun as a learned word from Late Latin.^(DELI 1999)^(GRADIT 2003)^(DEI|1319)

+

+ {{homograph|1|straight}}

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+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=1065, Umbrian confession formula|origins=la regō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /diˈrit.to/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''diritto''' (feminine diritta, masculine plural diritti, feminine plural diritte)^(Wiktionary)

+ The syncopated [[dritto]] is a common variant.^(Wiktionary)^(DEI|1319) Old forms include [[roa-oit|deritto]] and [[roa-oit|dericto]], and Old Venetian [[m|roa-oit|dreto]].^(TLIO)^(REW 1935)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The adjective is [[inh|la-vul|*dīrīctus]], a spoken form of [[la|dīrēctus|t=laid out in a straight line]], the past participle of [[m|la|dīrigō|t=to direct, set straight]], from [[m|la|dis-]] and [[m|la|regō|t=to guide, rule]].^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010)^(GRADIT 2003)^(Wiktionary) Wiktionary allows a Vulgar Latin [[m|la-vul|*dērēctus]] as well, and the LEI finds that the ⟨i⟩ of the Italian forms probably points to ⟨*dīrīctus⟩, though the question is not settled.^(Wiktionary)^(LEI|2, 588) The forms without the first vowel, such as [[dritto]], show the frequent loss of the vowel before the stress.^(DEI|1319)

+

+ The word is pan-Romance: [[fr|droit]], [[oc|drech]], [[ca|dret]], [[es|derecho]], [[pt|direito]], [[ro|drept]] and [[dlm|drat]].^(Nocentini 2010)^(REW 1935)^(LEI|2, 588) In most of these languages it took the place of [[la|dexter|t=right-hand]], and as a noun the place of [[m|la|iūs|t=law]].^(REW 1935)^(DEI|1319) Its learned doublet is [[diretto]].^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The TLIO's first record is the Umbrian confession formula from Norcia, of 1065.^(TLIO) DELI dates the senses “straight”, “right-hand” and “upright, honest” to Bono Giamboni, before 1292.^(DELI 1999)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The sense “standing upright” and the adverb “in a straight line” are recorded in Giovanni Villani, before 1348.^(DELI 1999) The moral sense survives in literature thanks to Dante's “la diritta via era smarrita” (the straight way was lost).^(GRADIT 2003)^(Treccani 2011) As a noun, ''diritto'' or ''dritto'' “right side” of an object with two faces is recorded in Leonardo, before 1519; the tennis forehand followed in 1956 and the knit stitch in 1970.^(DELI 1999) The feminine ''diritta'' “right hand” is recorded as ''dritta'' before 1786 and as ''diritta'' in 1848.^(DELI 1999)

+

+ ''Dirittura'' meant “uprightness” as early as Rinaldo d'Aquino, in the early 13th century, and ''dirittura d'arrivo'' “home straight” dates from 1956.^(DELI 1999) ''Addirittura'' “even, outright” grew out of the phrase ''a dirittura'' before 1431.^(Nocentini 2010) A Tuscan proverb says “Bue vecchio, solco diritto” (an old ox ploughs a straight furrow).^(Tommaseo–Bellini 1861)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1065 – The Umbrian confession formula of Norcia has the first record.^(TLIO)

+ * Early 13th century – Rinaldo d'Aquino uses ''dirittura'' for uprightness.^(DELI 1999)

+ * Before 1292 – Bono Giamboni uses ''diritto'' for straight, right-hand and honest.^(DELI 1999)

+ * Before 1348 – Giovanni Villani uses it for “upright” and as an adverb.^(DELI 1999)

+ * Before 1431 – ''Addirittura'' is recorded.^(Nocentini 2010)

+ * Before 1519 – Leonardo uses ''dritto'' for the right side of an object.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1956 – The tennis forehand and ''dirittura d'arrivo'' are recorded.^(DELI 1999)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # [[m|en|straight]], without bends: ''una strada lunga e diritta''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+ # [[m|en|upright]], vertical, erect: ''Stai diritto con la schiena!'', ''diritto come un fuso'', bolt upright.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+ # ''(figurative, literary)'' Honest, righteous: ''la diritta via''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Treccani 2011)

+ # ''(dated)'' Right, on the right-hand side: ''la mano diritta''.^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Treccani 2011)

+ # ''(figurative)'' Shrewd, smart (more often ''dritto'').^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Gabrielli 2020)

+ # ''(knitting)'' ''maglia diritta'', ''punto diritto'': plain stitch.^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ===Adverb===

+ # Straight, without turning: ''Vai sempre diritto fino alla piazza'', ''tirare diritto'', to carry on regardless, ''rigare diritto'', to behave.^(Treccani 2011)^(Gabrielli 2020)^(GRADIT 2003)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # The right side of a fabric, coin or other object with two faces.^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(tennis)'' The [[m|en|forehand]].^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(knitting)'' The plain stitch.^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[diritta]]

+ * [[dirittezza]]

+ * [[dirittura]]

+ * [[addirittura]]

+ * [[dirittamente]]

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+ {{homograph|2|law, right}}

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+ {{infobox|confidence=probable|formation=borrowing|attested=early 13th century, Rinaldo d'Aquino|origins=la regō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /diˈrit.to/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''diritto''' ''m'' (plural diritti)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ DELI treats the noun as a learned word, [[bor|la-lat|dīrēctum|t=what is right]], the neuter of the adjective used as a noun and opposed to [[m|la-lat|tortum|t=crooked; wrong]].^(DELI 1999) Nocentini, Devoto–Oli and Treccani describe it simply as the adjective used as a noun.^(Nocentini 2010)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Treccani 2011) DEI finds the Late Latin noun in the 8th-century Formulae of Sens and the phrase [[m|la-lat|verbum]] ⟨directum⟩ “justice” in Gregory of Tours in the 6th century: it replaced classical [[la|iūs|t=law]] once the adjective had come to mean “just”.^(DEI|1319)^(GDLI) The same development is found in Germanic, where [[got|𐍂𐌰𐌹𐌷𐍄𐍃|tr=raihts]] translates Greek ⟨díkaios⟩ “just”, and in [[de|Recht]], [[m|en|right]] and [[sga|recht]].^(DEI|1319) DEI suggests that the loss of the Latin word was helped by its sameness of sound with ⟨iūs⟩ “broth”.^(DEI|1319)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ DELI's first record is Rinaldo d'Aquino, in the early 13th century, in the sense “what is just and lawful”, and the form ''dritto'' “claim, entitlement” appears in Giacomino Pugliese at the same time.^(DELI 1999) Brunetto Latini's ''Rettorica'' speaks of “la nostra causa piena di diritto e di giustizia” (our cause, full of right and justice).^(GDLI|4, 547)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The sense “body of laws” is recorded in the translation of Brunetto Latini at the end of the 13th century, and “the science of law” in Sforza Pallavicino, before 1667.^(DELI 1999) In 14th-century Florentine trade ''diritto'' also meant a customs duty or a commission, as Medieval Latin ⟨dirictum⟩ already did in Venice in 1251.^(DEI|1319) Several modern phrases are calques: ''diritto naturale'' renders the ''ius naturale'' of Grotius (1625), ''diritti dell'uomo'' the English “rights of man”, and ''diritti d'autore'' a German phrase.^(DELI 1999)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * Early 13th century – Rinaldo d'Aquino and Giacomino Pugliese have the first records.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1251 – Medieval Latin ''dirictum'' “customs duty” is recorded in Venice.^(DEI|1319)

+ * End of the 13th century – The sense “body of laws” appears in a translation of Brunetto Latini.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 14th century – ''Diritto'' “duty, commission” is used in Florentine trade.^(DEI|1319)

+ * Before 1667 – Sforza Pallavicino uses it for the science of law.^(DELI 1999)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # [[m|en|law]], the body of rules that govern a community: ''diritto civile'', ''diritto penale'', ''diritto internazionale''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+ # Law as a science and a university subject: ''Si è laureata in diritto.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+ # A [[m|en|right]], a legally protected entitlement: ''il diritto di voto'', ''diritti umani'', human rights.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+ # A claim based on custom or morality: ''Ho il diritto di sapere la verità.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+ # Mostly in the plural, a [[m|en|fee]] or duty: ''diritti di segreteria'', ''diritti d'autore'', royalties.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Gabrielli 2020)

+ # ''(finance)'' An option right, and the coupon that represents it.^(GRADIT 2003)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[dirigere]]

+ * [[dritto]]

+ * [[diretto]]

+ * [[destro]]

+ * [[torto]]

+ * [[la|dīrēctus]]

+ * [[fr|droit]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ ''Dritto'' is a common variant of the adjective and adverb and an old one of the noun.^(Wiktionary)^(Gabrielli 2020)^(Treccani 2011) Used as an adverb with a feminine or plural subject, ''diritto'' can agree or stay invariable.^(Treccani 2011) Common phrases include ''a buon diritto'' “rightly” and ''di diritto'' “by right”.^(GRADIT 2003)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}