finalmente Italian · revision 38014

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=1287, Macerata document|origins=la fīnis}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /fi.nalˈmen.te/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''finalmente'''^(Wiktionary)

+ The old form [[finalemente]] is obsolete.^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Tommaseo–Bellini 1861) Old forms include [[roa-oit|finalmenti]] and [[roa-oit|finalimente]].^(TLIO)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is formed [[af|it|finale|-mente]], the adverb of [[finale]] “last, final”.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Wiktionary)^(Treccani 2011)^(TLIO) The adjective comes from [[la-lat|fīnālis]], from [[la|fīnis|t=end, boundary]].^(Nocentini 2010)^(DELI 1999) Tommaseo compares the adverb [[la-lat|fīnāliter]].^(Tommaseo–Bellini 1861)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The TLIO's first record is a document from Macerata of 1287;^(TLIO)^(GRADIT 2003)^(Zingarelli 2010) GRADIT dates the word to the first half of the 13th century and Zingarelli to before 1294.^(TLIO)^(GRADIT 2003)^(Zingarelli 2010) Guittone d'Arezzo wrote that if any good appears, it “torna a gran mal finalmente” (turns to great evil in the end).^(GDLI|5, 1020)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In Old Italian the adverb meant “at the end of a series of events”, “at the end of earthly life” and “until the end”, but also “completely, once and for all”, “after all”, “even”, and “on purpose, intentionally”.^(TLIO) The sense “completely” survives in literary use, and Zingarelli marks “on purpose” as obsolete.^(Zingarelli 2010)

+

+ The use that stresses relief at something long awaited is already found in Old Italian, and it is now the commonest: ''finalmente!'' alone means “at last!”.^(TLIO)^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026) German borrowed the word, rarely, in 1663.^(DIFIT)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * First half of the 13th century – GRADIT's date of first record.^(GRADIT 2003)

+ * 1287 – A document from Macerata uses the word.^(TLIO)

+ * Before 1294 – Guittone d'Arezzo uses ''finalmente''.^(GDLI|5, 1020)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+ * 1663 – German ''finalmente'' is recorded once.^(DIFIT)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adverb===

+ # [[m|en|at last]], in the end, after a long time: ''Dopo tre ore di coda, finalmente è toccato a noi.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(exclamative)'' Expressing satisfaction at something long hoped for: ''Finalmente sei tornato!'', ''Finalmente!''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Wiktionary)

+ # [[m|en|finally]], lastly; in short.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Gabrielli 2020)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(literary)'' Completely, once and for all.^(Zingarelli 2010)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[finale]]

+ * [[fine]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}