fidanzato Italian · revision 38203

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=1600, Bernardo Davanzati|origins=la-vul *fīdō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /fi.danˈt͡sa.to/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''fidanzato''' (feminine fidanzata, masculine plural fidanzati, feminine plural fidanzate, superlative fidanzatissimo)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is the past participle of [[fidanzare]], used as an adjective and a noun, [[af|it|fidanzare|-ato]].^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Wiktionary) The verb is formed from [[fidanza|t=trust; pledge]].^(GRADIT 2003)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ DELI explains the noun as [[fro|fiance|t=promise]], from [[m|fro|fier|t=to trust]], remade on Italian [[fidare]].^(DELI 1999)^(DEI)^(GRADIT 2003) The Old French noun had the verb [[m|fro|fiancer]], first “to make a commitment” (12th century) and, from 1283 also “to promise in marriage”, the source of [[fr|fiancé]].^(DELI 1999)^(DEI)^(Wiktionary) Nocentini instead sees the noun as a Romance formation, [[la-vul|*fidantia|t=trusting]], from [[m|la-vul|*fīdō|alt=*fīdāre|t=to trust]], with [[pro|fizansa]] and [[es|fianza]] beside the French word.^(Nocentini 2010) [[la-med|fidantio|alt=fidantiare|t=to assure, guarantee]] is recorded at Reggio Emilia in 1242.^(DELI 1999)^(DEI)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ DELI's first record is the adjective, “having exchanged a promise of marriage”, in Bernardo Davanzati's translation of Tacitus (1600): ''Arminio gli aveva rapito la figliuola fidanzata a un altro'' (“Arminius had carried off his daughter, who was betrothed to another man”).^(DELI 1999)^(GDLI)^(Tommaseo–Bellini 1861)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The legal senses of ''fidanza'' and ''fidanzare'', “pledge” and “to guarantee”, have disappeared.^(DELI 1999) From the 19th century ''fidanzare'' in the sense “to promise in marriage”, with ''fidanzamento'' and ''fidanzato'', spread and replaced the older phrases ''promettere'', ''promessa di matrimonio'' and ''sposo promesso''.^(DELI 1999) Manzoni called his novel ''I promessi sposi'', and in 1869 Tommaseo still wrote that ''fidanzato'' was not in common use, which said ''promesso sposo'' or simply ''promessa'' for the bride.^(DELI 1999)^(Tommaseo–Bellini 1861) The feminine noun ''fidanzata'' is recorded in 1829 in a translation of Walter Scott, and the masculine noun in 1855.^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)

+

+ Manzoni wrote of ''vergini / indarno fidanzate'' (“maidens betrothed in vain”).^(GDLI)^(Gabrielli 2020) By extension the noun now also means a boyfriend, a partner in a steady relationship, and ''malattia dei fidanzati'' is a popular name for mononucleosis.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Gabrielli 2020)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1242 – Medieval Latin ''fidantiare'' is recorded at Reggio Emilia.^(DELI 1999)

+ * Before 1363 – Matteo Villani uses ''fidanzare'' for “to guarantee”.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1600 – Bernardo Davanzati uses ''fidanzato'' “betrothed”.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1829 – The noun ''fidanzata'' appears in a translation of Walter Scott.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1855 – The masculine noun is first recorded.^(Nocentini 2010)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)

+ * 1869 – Tommaseo notes that ''fidanzato'' is not in common use.^(DELI 1999)^(Tommaseo–Bellini 1861)

+ * 1898 – ''Fidanzamento'' “engagement” is first recorded.^(DELI 1999)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # [[m|en|engaged|alt=Engaged]], betrothed, or in a steady relationship (+ con): ''Mia cugina è fidanzata con un ragazzo di Bari.''^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Treccani 2011)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # A [[m|en|fiancé]] (feminine ''fidanzata'', a fiancée).^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+ # By extension, a [[m|en|boyfriend]] (feminine, a girlfriend), a partner in a steady relationship: ''Stasera esce con la fidanzata.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Treccani 2011)

+ # ''(plural)'' An engaged couple.^(Wiktionary)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[fidanzatino]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[fidanza]]

+ * [[fidanzamento]]

+ * [[fidanzare]]

+ * [[fidanzarsi]]

+ * [[fidare]]

+ * [[fr|fiancé]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ ''Fidanzati in casa'' are an engaged couple whose families have formally accepted the engagement.^(Devoto–Oli 2026) The diminutive ''fidanzatino'' is used for very young sweethearts.^(Treccani 2011)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}