permesso Italian · revision 38005

+ {{infobox|confidence=probable|formation=derivation, borrowing|attested=14th century|origins=la mittō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /perˈmes.so/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''permesso''' ''m'' (plural permessi); as an adjective, feminine permessa, plural permessi, permesse^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The adjective is the past participle of [[permettere]], from [[la|permittō|t=to let go; to allow]].^(DELI 1999)^(GRADIT 2003)^(Zingarelli 2010) The noun is explained in two ways.^(Nocentini 2010)^(Devoto–Oli 2026) Nocentini takes it as [[bor|la|permissus|t=permission]], a noun formed on the past participle of the Latin verb, with its stressed vowel remodelled after [[messo]];^(Nocentini 2010) Devoto–Oli, Treccani and the GDLI derive it from [[m|la|permissum]], the neuter of the participle used as a noun.^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Treccani 2011)^(GDLI|13, 62) DELI and DEI simply list it with the participle of that verb.^(DELI 1999)^(DEI|2859) Compare [[fr|permis]] and [[es|permiso]].^(Nocentini 2010)^(DEI|2859)

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+ The Latin verb is a compound of [[m|la|per-]] and [[m|la|mittō|t=to let go, send]], which de Vaan traces to an older sense “to exchange”.^(DELI 1999)^(de Vaan 2008)

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+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The adjective “allowed” is first recorded in the 14th-century Italian translation of the ''Collationes'' of the Abbot Isaac: “queste sono le tentazioni permesse da Dio” (these are the temptations permitted by God).^(DELI 1999)^(Tommaseo–Bellini 1861) The noun “permission” follows in Donato degli Albanzani (before 1411), who tells of a woman who “ebbe permesso dalla guardia” (was given leave by the guard) to enter a prison.^(DELI 1999)^(GDLI|13, 62)

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+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The polite question ''è permesso?'', asked before entering a room, is recorded in Goldoni (1761); Tommaseo remarked that people often said it after they had already come in.^(DELI 1999)^(Tommaseo–Bellini 1861) The sense “short leave” for soldiers and clerks appears in 1824; in the Kingdom of Naples a ''permesso'' of up to 29 days was distinguished from the longer ''licenza'' granted by the king.^(DELI 1999) The older noun ''permissione'' was still in use in the 19th century and then disappeared.^(DELI 1999)

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+ In the 20th century the word came to name the many written authorizations of administrative life: ''permesso di soggiorno'' (residence permit), ''permesso di pesca'', and the ''permesso premio'' granted to prisoners.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)

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+ ==Timeline==

+ * 14th century – The adjective appears in the translation of the Abbot Isaac.^(DELI 1999)

+ * Before 1411 – Donato degli Albanzani uses the noun.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1761 – Goldoni uses ''è permesso?''^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1824 – ''Permesso'' is recorded for a soldier's or employee's leave.^(DELI 1999)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # [[m|en|allowed]], [[m|en|permitted]]: ''Qui il parcheggio è permesso solo ai residenti.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Wiktionary)

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+ ===Interjection===

+ # ''(è) permesso?'': may I come in?; also ''permesso!'' to ask people to let one pass, “excuse me”.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # [[m|en|permission]], consent: ''Ha chiesto il permesso di uscire prima.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Treccani 2011)

+ # [[m|en|leave]] from work or military service, and the document granting it: ''È a casa in permesso per tre giorni.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Treccani 2011)

+ # A pass to enter a public office or a restricted area.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Wikizionario)

+ # ''(law, administration)'' A [[m|en|permit]] or licence issued by a public authority: ''permesso di soggiorno'', ''permesso di costruire''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Wiktionary)

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+ ==Word family==

+ * [[permissivo]]

+ * [[permissività]]

+ * [[permissivismo]]

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+ ==Related words==

+ * [[permettere]]

+ * [[permissibile]]

+ * [[permissionario]]

+ * [[permissione]]

+ * [[messo]]

+ * [[la|permittō]]

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+ ==Usage notes==

+ ''Con permesso'' and the colloquial ''compermesso'' are said when entering or passing in front of someone.^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Wiktionary) The GDLI also records ''Permesso'', the name of a river of Boeotia that flows down from Mount Helicon, used by poets as a figure for poetry; it is a learned word from Greek.^(GDLI|13, 63)

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+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}