speranza Italian · revision 38330

+ {{infobox|confidence=probable|formation=inherited|attested=before 1250, Giacomo da Lentini|origins=ine-pro *spéh₁s}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /speˈran.t͡sa/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''speranza''' ''f'' (plural speranze)^(Wiktionary)

+ Old forms include ''speranqa'' and ''speransa''.^(GDLI)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|la-vul|*spērantia]], a noun formed from [[m|la|spērāns|t=hoping]], the present participle of [[la|spērō|t=to hope]].^(Nocentini 2010)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Gabrielli 2020)^(Devoto 1968) DEI and GRADIT give the Latin noun as Late Latin.^(DEI|3585)^(GRADIT 2003) Treccani, Sabatini–Coletti and the GDLI derive the Italian word instead from [[pro|esperansa]] (and [[fro|esperance]]), the noun of [[m|pro|esperar|t=to hope]], and GRADIT compares the Old Occitan noun too.^(Treccani 2011)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(GDLI)^(GRADIT 2003) Wiktionary also allows a formation in Italian from [[sperare]] with the suffix [[-anza]].^(Wiktionary)

+

+ The same word is [[fr|espérance]], [[es|esperanza]] and [[pt|esperança]];^(Körting 1907)^(Wiktionary) French also has [[m|fr|espoir]] and Spanish [[m|es|espera]] beside it.^(Körting 1907)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ The Latin verb comes from [[m|la|spēs|t=hope]], which goes back to [[ine-pro|*spéh₁s|t=prosperity]], from a root meaning “to succeed, prosper” also found in [[cu|спѣти|tr=spěti|t=to succeed]] and [[ang|spōwan|t=to prosper]].^(de Vaan 2008)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The noun is first recorded before 1250 in Giacomo da Lentini, for the confident expectation of something in which one's good lies, or which one wishes to happen as one desires.^(DELI 1999)^(GRADIT 2003)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Before 1292 Bono Giamboni's ''Vizi e virtù'' uses the word for one of the three theological virtues, beside faith and charity.^(DELI 1999) From before 1348, in Francesco da Barberino, it also names the person or thing in which one places one's hope.^(DELI 1999) In the first canto of the ''Inferno'' the she-wolf so frightens Dante that he loses “the hope of the height” (''ch'io perdei la speranza de l'altezza''), and the gate of Hell bears the line ''Lasciate ogne speranza, voi ch'intrate'' “Abandon all hope, you who enter”.^(GDLI)^(Treccani 2011)

+

+ The sense of a young person whose first results, chiefly in sport or the arts, promise success is recorded from before 1910 in Carlo Dossi.^(DELI 1999)^(GRADIT 2003) Proverbs say ''finché c'è vita c'è speranza'' “while there is life there is hope” and ''la speranza è l'ultima a morire'' “hope is the last to die”, and green is ''il colore della speranza'' “the colour of hope”.^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Treccani 2011)^(Zingarelli 2010) In popular botany Tuscan ''speranze'' and Venetian and Trentino ''speranzine'' name kinds of pink.^(DEI|3585)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * Before 1250 – Giacomo da Lentini uses ''speranza'' for confident expectation.^(DELI 1999)^(GRADIT 2003)

+ * Before 1292 – Bono Giamboni uses it for the theological virtue.^(DELI 1999)

+ * Before 1348 – Francesco da Barberino uses it for a person or thing one hopes in.^(DELI 1999)

+ * Before 1910 – Carlo Dossi uses it for a promising young person.^(DELI 1999)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # [[m|en|hope]]: the confident expectation that something desired will happen or be achieved: ''Partirono con la speranza di trovare lavoro all'estero.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(theology)'' One of the three [[m|en|theological virtue|alt=theological virtues]], with [[fede]] and [[carità]]: the confident expectation of eternal life and of the help of grace.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Treccani 2011)

+ # Something hoped for, an [[m|en|aspiration]]: ''Con quella sconfitta svanirono tutte le loro speranze.''^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+ # A person or thing in which one places one's hopes: ''Quel prestito è ormai la nostra unica speranza.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Treccani 2011)^(Gabrielli 2020)

+ # A young person whose early results in an activity, especially sport or the arts, promise success: ''una giovane speranza del nuoto''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Treccani 2011)

+ # ''(statistics)'' In ''speranza di vita'', [[m|en|life expectancy]].^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+ # ''(in the plural)'' A pink with flowers in clusters.^(GRADIT 2003)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[speranzoso]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[sperare]]

+ * [[disperare]]

+ * [[la|spēs]]

+ * [[fr|espérance]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ ''Di belle speranze'' describes a young person with a promising future, and ''oltre ogni speranza'' means “beyond all expectation”.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Treccani 2011) The ''ancora di speranza'' is a ship's spare anchor, kept ready for emergencies.^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Treccani 2011)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}