dolce Italian · revision 38012

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=early 13th century, Iacopo Mostacci|origins=la dulcis}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /ˈdol.t͡ʃe/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''dolce''' ''m or f'' by sense (plural dolci, superlative dolcissimo)^(Wiktionary)

+ The old form [[roa-oit|dolze]] is recorded.^(DEI|1373) Wiktionary lists the variant [[dorce]].^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|la|dulcis|t=sweet]].^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010)^(GRADIT 2003)^(Wiktionary)^(DEI|1373) The word is pan-Romance: [[ro|dulce]], [[fr|doux]], [[oc|dous]], [[ca|dolç]], [[osp|duz]] (now [[es|dulce]]) and [[pt|doce]].^(Nocentini 2010)^(REW 1935)

+

+ The origin of the Latin adjective is uncertain.^(DELI 1999)^(GRADIT 2003) It is usually compared with [[grc|γλυκύς|tr=glukús|t=sweet]], assuming a change of an initial ⟨dl-⟩ to ⟨gl-⟩ in Greek.^(Nocentini 2010)^(DEI) De Vaan reconstructs [[itc-pro|*dulkwi-]] but finds the explanation of the Greek form ad hoc; he thinks the Latin and Greek words may be a common borrowing from an unknown source, perhaps connected with [[la|lac|t=milk]], since milk is called “sweet” in many languages.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The earliest dated senses are figurative: Iacopo Mostacci, at the beginning of the 13th century, used it for “gentle, free from violence”, and Giacomino Pugliese, before 1250, for “that cheers and comforts the spirit”.^(DELI 1999) GRADIT dates the word to before 1250.^(GRADIT 2003)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The literal taste sense, “tasting of sugar or honey”, is dated by DELI only to 1310, while “delicate in flavour”, “pleasant to the eye, the ear or the nose” and “mild” are in Bono Giamboni before 1292.^(DELI 1999) Fresh water, ''acqua dolce'', is in Dino Compagni (1310–1312); ''dolce'' “dear, beloved” is in Guittone d'Arezzo, and a ''dolce'' slope in Poliziano (1480).^(DELI 1999) The noun meant “sweetness” in Onesto da Bologna (before 1303) and “a sweet dish, cake” in Leone Ebreo (before 1535).^(DELI 1999) In technical language it describes soft metals, stone and wood that are easy to work.^(DEI|1373)^(GRADIT 2003)

+

+ As a musical direction, “softly and sweetly”, it is recorded in Italian from 1555 and passed into German (1732), French (1705) and English (19th century).^(DIFIT)^(Wiktionary) DIFIT also lists ''dolce far niente'' “pleasant idleness” among the Italian phrases taken into other languages.^(DIFIT)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * Early 13th century – Iacopo Mostacci uses ''dolce'' for “gentle”.^(DELI 1999)

+ * Before 1250 – Giacomino Pugliese uses it for “comforting”.^(DELI 1999)^(GRADIT 2003)

+ * Before 1292 – Bono Giamboni uses it for “delicate in flavour” and “pleasant to the senses”.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1310 – The sense “tasting of sugar or honey” is recorded.^(DELI 1999)

+ * Before 1535 – Leone Ebreo uses ''dolce'' for a sweet dish.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1555 – ''Dolce'' as a musical term.^(DIFIT)

+ * 1705 – French ''dolce'' (music).^(DIFIT)

+ * 1732 – German ''dolce'' (music).^(DIFIT)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # [[m|en|sweet]], tasting of sugar or honey, the opposite of ''amaro'': ''Queste pesche sono dolcissime.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Of wine or liqueur, sweet as opposed to dry; of food, mild, not spicy: ''gorgonzola dolce''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)

+ # Pleasant to the senses, soft, [[m|en|gentle]]: ''una musica dolce'', ''un inverno dolce''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Kind, tender, affectionate: ''È una ragazza molto dolce con i bambini.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(literary)'' Dear, beloved.^(DELI 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Of a slope, gentle, not steep.^(DELI 1999)^(GRADIT 2003)

+ # Of water, fresh (not salty); of metal, wood or stone, soft and easy to work: ''acqua dolce'', ''ferro dolce''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(DEI|1373)

+ # ''(phonetics)'' Soft.^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # A [[m|en|dessert]], a cake or other sweet dish: ''Per dolce c'è il tiramisù.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Sweetness, the sweet taste.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[dolcezza]]

+ * [[dolcemente]]

+ * [[dolcetto]]

+ * [[dolciastro]]

+ * [[dolciario]]

+ * [[dolciume]]

+ * [[dolcificare]]

+ * [[dolcificante]]

+ * [[addolcire]]

+ * [[raddolcire]]

+ * [[indolcire]]

+ * [[sdolcinato]]

+ * [[agrodolce]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[addolcare]]

+ * [[dolcia]]

+ * [[dolciaio]]

+ * [[dolciato]]

+ * [[dolciore]]

+ * [[dolzore]]

+ * [[dolcitudine]]

+ * [[dolco]]

+ * [[dolcorare]]

+ * [[dolcore]]

+ * [[la|dulcis]]

+ * [[fr|doux]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ A proverb says ''chi ha l'amaro in bocca, non può sputar dolce'' (one with bitterness in the mouth cannot spit sweetness).^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}