fra Italian · revision 37999

+ Italian has two words spelled ''fra'': the preposition, from Latin ''īnfrā'', and the title of a friar, a shortening of ''frate''.^(DELI 1999)^(GRADIT 2003)^(Zingarelli 2010)

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+ {{homograph|1|between, among}}

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+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=before 1250|origins=la īnferus}}

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+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /fra/^(Wiktionary)

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+ ==Etymology==

+ The preposition is [[inh|la|īnfrā|t=below, beneath]], which lost its first syllable.^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010)^(GRADIT 2003)^(GDLI|6, 263) In Late Latin it was confused with [[m|la|intrā|t=within]], and so took the sense “between” that it shares with [[tra]].^(Nocentini 2010)^(Devoto 1968)^(GDLI|6, 263) The Latin word is a contracted ablative feminine of [[m|la|īnferus|t=lower, below]], with the word for “side” understood.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Wiktionary)^(OLD 2012) It survives elsewhere in [[oc|enfra]] and in Romansh compounds.^(Nocentini 2010)^(REW 1935)^(Körting 1907)

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+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Zingarelli dates the preposition before 1250.^(Zingarelli 2010) DELI's first record is Dino Compagni's chronicle, 1310–1312, where it has the same meanings as ''tra''.^(DELI 1999)^(GRADIT 2003)

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+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Tommaseo notes that ''tra'' and ''fra'' appear in Italian charters from 764, and argues that their sources, “within” and “below”, should keep them apart; usage, however, has merged them.^(Tommaseo–Bellini 1861) In Old Italian ''fra'' joined the article as ''frallo'', ''fralla'', ''fralle'', like other prepositions.^(GDLI|6, 263)^(Zingarelli 2010) Marco Polo's translator, Boccaccio, Ariosto and Tasso use it for a position between two things or among many.^(GDLI|6, 263)

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+ In compounds ''fra-'' replaces Latin ''inter-'' and doubles the following consonant, as in ''frattanto'' “meanwhile”.^(DEI)^(Prati 1951|460) Today the choice between ''fra'' and ''tra'' is mostly a matter of sound: speakers avoid ''fra fratelli'' and ''tra tre''.^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Treccani 2011)

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+ ==Timeline==

+ * 764 – ''Tra'' and ''fra'' appear in charters.^(Tommaseo–Bellini 1861)

+ * Before 1250 – The preposition is first recorded.^(Zingarelli 2010)

+ * 1310–1312 – Dino Compagni uses it as a synonym of ''tra''.^(DELI 1999)

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+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Preposition===

+ # [[m|en|between]], in the space between two points or things: ''Il paese si trova fra due fiumi.''^(Gabrielli 2020)^(Treccani 2011)^(Wiktionary)

+ # [[m|en|among]], in the midst of: ''L'ho riconosciuto fra la folla.''^(Gabrielli 2020)^(Wiktionary)

+ # In, within (time from now): ''Ci vediamo fra un'ora.''^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Between, of a relation or comparison: ''un accordo fra i due governi''.^(Gabrielli 2020)^(Treccani 2011)

+ # Indicating one of a set: ''fra tutti, eravamo una ventina''.^(Treccani 2011)

+ # ''fra sé e sé'': to oneself, inwardly.^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Treccani 2011)

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+ ==Word family==

+ * [[frattanto]]

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+ {{homograph|2|friar}}

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+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=clipping|attested=before 1306, Iacopone da Todi|origins=la frāter}}

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+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /fra/^(Wiktionary)

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+ ==Forms==

+ '''fra''' ''m'' (invariable)^(Wiktionary)

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+ ==Etymology==

+ The title is a shortened form of [[frate]] “friar”, used before a name.^(DELI 1999)^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Wiktionary) The full form continues [[la|frāter|t=brother]].^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Devoto 1968)

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+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The first record is Iacopone da Todi, who died in 1306: “O fra Ranaldo, do' èi andato?” (O Brother Rinaldo, where have you gone?).^(DELI 1999)^(GDLI|6, 264)

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+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Boccaccio's ''Decameron'' has ''Fra Puccio'', and Manzoni's ''I promessi sposi'' made ''fra Cristoforo'' a household name.^(GDLI|6, 264) Tommaseo noted that in his time the title was given above all to lay brothers, and sounded familiar or slighting when used of friars who were priests.^(Tommaseo–Bellini 1861) Some friars are known by the title alone, as ''Fra Paolo'' Sarpi.^(Tommaseo–Bellini 1861) English uses ''Fra'' for Italian friars from the 16th century, and German from 1839.^(DIFIT)

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+ ==Timeline==

+ * Before 1306 – Iacopone da Todi uses ''fra'' before a name.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 16th century – English ''Fra'' is recorded.^(DIFIT)

+ * 1839 – German ''Fra'' is recorded.^(DIFIT)

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+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # [[m|en|brother|alt=Brother]], the title of a [[m|en|friar]], placed before his name, usually a name beginning with a consonant: ''fra Cristoforo''.^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Gabrielli 2020)^(Wiktionary)

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+ ==Related words==

+ * [[tra]]

+ * [[infra]]

+ * [[frate]]

+ * [[la|īnfrā]]

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+ ==Usage notes==

+ The title is also written ''fra’'' or ''frà'', and is used mainly before names beginning with a consonant.^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010) Young people use ''fra'' as slang for “bro”, a shortening of ''fratello''.^(Wiktionary)

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+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}