altrimenti Italian · revision 38166

+ {{infobox|confidence=probable|formation=compound|attested=late 12th century, Proverbia quae dicuntur (Venetian)|origins=la alter, la mēns}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /al.triˈmen.ti/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is a compound of [[altra]], the feminine of [[altro]] “other”, and [[-mente]], the suffix of adverbs, which goes back to [[la|alterā mente|t=with another mind]].^(DELI 1999)^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Gabrielli 2020)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ GDLI considers “altramente” the more genuine form, as the regular adverb from the feminine.^(GDLI) DEI, GDLI, Devoto–Oli and Sabatini–Coletti think that the forms in “altre-” and “altri-” were influenced by [[fro|autrement]].^(DEI|146)^(GDLI)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026) Nocentini explains “altrimenti” as formed on the model of [[parimenti]] “likewise”.^(Nocentini 2010)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The TLIO's first record is in the Venetian ''Proverbia quae dicuntur'' of the late 12th century.^(TLIO) DELI dates the word to Brunetto Latini, before 1294, in the senses “in a different way” and “in the opposite case”, and Zingarelli to 1231.^(DELI 1999)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Old Italian had many forms, from ''altramente'', ''altramenti'' and ''altremente'' to ''autramentre''.^(TLIO) Dante writes in the ''Purgatorio'' “Non altrimenti Achille si riscosse” (not otherwise did Achilles start up), with ''non altrimenti che'' “just as”.^(GDLI)^(TLIO) The word also meant “at all” in negative sentences, as in Boccaccio's “senza sapere altrimenti chi egli fosse” (without knowing at all who he was), and less often “at another time”.^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Gabrielli 2020)^(TLIO)

+

+ The sense “or else, otherwise” is already Old Italian.^(TLIO) Tommaseo still gave ''altramente'' as a headword beside ''altrimenti'' and marked ''altrimente'' and other forms as obsolete; today ''altramente'' is archaic and ''altrimente'' disused.^(Tommaseo–Bellini 1861)^(GDLI)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * Late 12th century – The word in the Venetian ''Proverbia quae dicuntur''.^(TLIO)

+ * 1231 – Zingarelli's date for the word.^(Zingarelli 2010)

+ * Before 1294 – Brunetto Latini uses it.^(DELI 1999)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adverb===

+ # In another way, [[m|en|differently]]: ''Stavolta proveremo a risolverlo altrimenti.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+ # ''Altrimenti detto'' or ''altrimenti chiamato'': also known as, [[m|en|alias]].^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)

+ # ''(archaic)'' At all, in negative sentences.^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Gabrielli 2020)

+

+ ===Conjunction===

+ # [[m|en|otherwise]], or else, if not: ''Sbrigati, altrimenti perdiamo il treno.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+ # Alternatively, or: ''Prendi il treno delle otto, o altrimenti quello delle nove.''^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[altro]]

+ * [[-mente]]

+ * [[parimenti]]

+ * [[fr|autrement]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Older forms are ''altrimente'' (disused) and ''altramente'', ''altramenti'' (archaic).^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)^(GDLI)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}