soprattutto Italian · revision 38225

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=compound|attested=late 12th or early 13th century}}

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+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /so.pratˈtut.to/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''soprattutto''' (invariable)^(Wiktionary)

+ It is also written ''sopratutto'' and ''sopra tutto''.^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Treccani 2011) Old forms include ''sovratutto'' and ''soprattutti''.^(GDLI|19, 463)

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+ ==Etymology==

+ It is a compound of [[sopra]] and [[tutto]], the phrase ⟨sopra tutto⟩ “above all” written as one word, with the doubled /t/ of the phrase.^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010)^(GRADIT 2003)^(Treccani 2011) The same phrase is [[fr|surtout]] and [[es|sobre todo]].^(Wiktionary)

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+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ DELI's first record is an anonymous poem of the late 12th or early 13th century, in the form ''sovratutto'': “Sovratutto ti vò amaestrare / di savere pietate ritenire” (“Above all I want to teach you to keep pity”).^(DELI 1999)^(GDLI|19, 463) GRADIT dates the word to before 1375, and Devoto–Oli, Sabatini–Coletti and Nocentini to the 14th century.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Nocentini 2010)

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+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Boccaccio's ''Fiammetta'' names among the things a noble lady should hold dear “sopra tutto la grazia del tuo marito”, and Guicciardini advised rulers “sopra tutto” to resist the beginnings of trouble.^(Tommaseo–Bellini 1861)^(GDLI|19, 463) The adverb kept its two senses, “first of all, more than anything” and “especially”.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026) Sabatini–Coletti also notes its use as a sentence adverb, set off by a pause, which stresses what the speaker thinks most important.^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

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+ Battaglia records a separate, disused noun ''soprattutto'' or ''sovratutto'' “overcoat”, taken from [[fr|surtout]].^(GDLI|19, 463)

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+ ==Timeline==

+ * Late 12th or early 13th century – ''Sovratutto'' appears in an anonymous poem.^(DELI 1999)

+ * Before 1375 – GRADIT's date for the word.^(GRADIT 2003)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adverb===

+ # [[m|en|above all|alt=Above all]], more than anything else, first of all: ''Prima dell'esame devi soprattutto dormire.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+ # [[m|en|especially|alt=Especially]], in particular, mainly: ''Mi piacciono i dolci, soprattutto le torte.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Gabrielli 2020)

+ # As a sentence adverb, marking what the speaker considers most important: ''Soprattutto, non dire niente a nessuno.''^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[sopra]]

+ * [[tutto]]

+ * [[fr|surtout]]

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+ ==Usage notes==

+ The spelling ''soprattutto'' is the usual one;^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Gabrielli 2020) ''sopratutto'' is less common and ''sopra tutto'' rare or old.^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Gabrielli 2020)

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+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}