risposta Italian · revision 37974

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=first half of the 13th century, Guidotto da Bologna|origins=la spondeō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /risˈpos.ta/, /risˈpɔs.ta/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''risposta''' ''f'' (plural risposte)^(Wiktionary)

+ An old variant is [[roa-oit|risponda]], used by Iacopone da Todi.^(Tommaseo–Bellini 1861)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is the feminine of [[roa-oit|risposto]], the old past participle of [[rispondere]], used as a noun.^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Devoto 1968) DEI describes it as a formation parallel to [[la|respōnsum|t=answer]], built on the Italian participle.^(DEI|3264) Wiktionary explains the participle, which replaced the Latin ⟨respōnsus⟩, as remade after ⟨posto⟩, ⟨posta⟩, the participle of [[porre]].^(Wiktionary) The same formation is [[es|respuesta]], [[ca|resposta]] and [[pt|resposta]], and [[fr|réponse]] (13th century) is related.^(Wiktionary)^(DEI|3264)

+

+ The verb continues [[la-lat|respondō|alt=respondere]], recorded in the 4th century, in place of classical [[la|respondeō]].^(DELI 1999) Nocentini explains it as a word of religious language that first meant “to promise solemnly in return”, from [[m|la|re-]] and [[m|la|spondeō|t=to promise solemnly]], the verb that also gave [[sposo]].^(Nocentini 2010)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ DELI dates the sense “what one says in answer” to the first half of the 13th century, in Guidotto da Bologna, and DIFIT gives the same date.^(DELI 1999)^(DIFIT) GRADIT dates the word to the end of the 13th century.^(GRADIT 2003) In the ''Inferno'' Dante writes “Vivo son io, e caro esser ti puote, / fu mia risposta” (I am alive, and it may be dear to you, was my answer).^(Tommaseo–Bellini 1861)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ DELI dates “the act of answering” to Giovanni Villani (before 1348), “a reaction that follows another action” to Filippo Villani (before 1405), the reply letter to Giovanni Guidiccioni (before 1541) and the sense “oracle, verdict” to 1561.^(DELI 1999) In fencing ''risposta'' is the counter-thrust after a parry, recorded in Camillo Agrippa's treatise of 1553, and the phrase ''botta e risposta'' “thrust and riposte” came to mean a quick exchange of words.^(DELI 1999)^(Treccani 2011) In music it names the answer to the subject of a fugue, from 1765, and in science, from 1959, the response to a stimulus.^(DIFIT)^(DELI 1999) Zingarelli lists an obsolete sense “rent, rental income”.^(Zingarelli 2010)

+

+ French borrowed the word as ''risposte'' “a quick witty reply” in 1527 and in fencing in 1640; this French word gave English ''riposte''.^(DIFIT) French also calqued the musical sense in ''répons'' (1703), and German took ''Risposta'' in music in 1732 and ''Risposte'' in fencing in 1806.^(DIFIT)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * First half of the 13th century – Guidotto da Bologna uses ''risposta'' for an answer.^(DELI 1999)^(DIFIT)

+ * Before 1348 – Giovanni Villani uses it for the act of answering.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1527 – French ''risposte'' “witty reply” is recorded.^(DIFIT)

+ * 1553 – Camillo Agrippa uses it for the fencing riposte.^(DELI 1999)^(DIFIT)

+ * 1561 – The sense “verdict, oracle” is recorded.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1640 – French ''risposte'' is used in fencing.^(DIFIT)

+ * 1765 – The musical sense in the fugue is recorded.^(DIFIT)

+ * 1959 – The scientific sense “response to a stimulus” is recorded.^(DELI 1999)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # An [[m|en|answer]] or [[m|en|reply]], what one says or writes in answer to a question or request: ''Aspetto ancora una risposta alla mia proposta.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+ # A written reply, a letter in answer: ''La risposta è arrivata con la posta di ieri.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+ # ''(colloquial)'' A rude or cheeky reply, especially to a parent or teacher: ''Non si danno certe risposte alla nonna!''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Gabrielli 2020)

+ # The outcome of a check or examination, a [[m|en|verdict]]: ''Aspettiamo la risposta della biopsia.''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+ # A [[m|en|reaction]] or response to someone's words or acts: ''Il silenzio fu la sua unica risposta'', ''per tutta risposta'', by way of reaction.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+ # ''(sports)'' In fencing, the [[m|en|riposte]] after a parry; in tennis, the return of serve.^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Treccani 2011)

+ # ''(science)'' The reaction of an organism or a device to a stimulus: ''la risposta del paziente alla terapia'', ''risposta in frequenza'', frequency response.^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Gabrielli 2020)

+ # ''(music)'' The answer, the restatement of the subject of a fugue by another voice.^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Gabrielli 2020)

+ # ''(law)'' ''comparsa di risposta'', the defendant's first written statement in a civil case.^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Gabrielli 2020)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[rispostaccia]]

+ * [[rispostina]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[rispondere]]

+ * [[responso]]

+ * [[sposo]]

+ * [[la|respondeō]]

+ * [[fr|riposte]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Common phrases are ''in risposta a'' “in reply to”, ''avere la risposta pronta'' “to be quick with an answer” and ''botta e risposta'' “a rapid exchange”.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Gabrielli 2020)^(Treccani 2011) The /o/ is closed in the traditional standard, and Wiktionary also gives an open /ɔ/.^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}