dubbio Italian · revision 38373

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=early 13th century, Iacopo Mostacci|origins=la duo}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /ˈdub.bjo/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''dubbio''' ''m'' (plural dubbi); as an adjective '''dubbio''' (feminine dubbia, masculine plural dubbi, feminine plural dubbie)^(Wiktionary)

+ The older spelling with one ⟨b⟩, ''dubio'', is marked archaic.^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026) The TLIO also records Old Italian ''dobbio'' and ''dobio''.^(TLIO)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is a learned word: the adjective is [[bor|la|dubius|t=wavering, uncertain]], and the noun is [[m|la|dubium|t=doubt]], the neuter of the adjective used as a noun.^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010)^(Wiktionary)^(Devoto–Oli 2026) The doubled ⟨bb⟩ is the normal Tuscan treatment of Latin /bj/ after the stressed vowel.^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Devoto 1968)^(DELI 1999) DEI also lists the related Latin [[m|la|dubiōsus]], the source of [[dubbioso]].^(DEI|1398)^(Nocentini 2010)

+

+ The adjective belongs with [[la|duo|t=two]]: it first meant “hesitating between two (things)”.^(Nocentini 2010)^(DELI 1999)^(GRADIT 2003) Nocentini compares the same development in [[de|Zweifel|t=doubt]], related to the word for “double”.^(Nocentini 2010) De Vaan derives it from an older adjective [[la|*dubos|t=in doubt]], from which a verb [[m|la|*dubō]] and then the new adjective were formed; he suggests a source [[ine-pro|*du-bʰHu-o-|t=of two forms, double]], with the root [[ine-pro|*bʰuH-|t=to be, become]], as in [[grc|διφυής|tr=diphuḗs|t=of two shapes]].^(de Vaan 2008)^(Wiktionary) Isidore of Seville already explained the word as “of two ways”.^(GDLI)

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+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The TLIO's first record is in a poem of the Sicilian school by Iacopo Mostacci, in the first half of the 13th century.^(TLIO) DELI dates the noun in the sense “dilemma, question” to the same poet and the sense “state of mind of someone who doubts” to Giordano da Pisa in 1303–1306.^(DELI 1999) The adjective appears before 1292 in Bono Giamboni, of an outcome that cannot be foreseen.^(DELI 1999)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In Old Italian the noun covered incomplete knowledge and its effects, from disbelief to hesitation and fear, and was often used of wavering faith; it also meant a point to be argued in a disputation and, in law, a doubtful passage of a text.^(TLIO) Set phrases such as ''senza dubbio'', ''in dubbio'' and ''mettere in dubbio'' are already Old Italian.^(TLIO) Dante opens a passage of the ''Paradiso'' with ''S'io fui nel primo dubbio disvestito'' (“If I was freed from my first doubt”).^(GDLI)

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+ The adjective was used of what cannot be known for certain (Old Italian translations of Cicero, early 14th century), of a person unable to decide (Dante, before 1321) and of something ambiguous (Passavanti, 1354).^(DELI 1999) Modern uses add the sense “questionable, of uncertain honesty”, as in ''di dubbia fama'', and in philosophy the ''dubbio metodico'' of Descartes.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Treccani 2011)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * Early 13th century – Iacopo Mostacci uses the noun for a question or dilemma.^(DELI 1999)^(TLIO)

+ * Before 1292 – Bono Giamboni uses the adjective of an uncertain outcome.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1303–1306 – Giordano da Pisa uses the noun for the state of doubting.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1304–1308 – Dante uses the derivative ''dubbioso''.^(DELI 1999)

+ * Before 1321 – Dante uses the adjective for “undecided”.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1354 – Iacopo Passavanti uses it for “ambiguous”.^(DELI 1999)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # [[m|en|doubt]], the state of someone who is unsure and cannot decide or judge: ''Era in dubbio se partire o restare.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+ # [[m|en|suspicion]], a fear that something is wrong: ''Comincio ad avere qualche dubbio su quel testimone.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Treccani 2011)

+ # An unclear point, a problem that is hard to solve: ''Il professore ha chiarito l'ultimo dubbio.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)

+ # ''(philosophy)'' The suspension of judgement as a method, as in ''dubbio metodico''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Treccani 2011)

+

+ ===Adjective===

+ # [[m|en|uncertain]], that cannot be known or decided with certainty: ''Il risultato della votazione resta dubbio.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+ # [[m|en|questionable]], open to doubt about its honesty or taste: ''un affare di dubbia correttezza''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+ # Indistinct, hard to make out: ''la luce dubbia della sera''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Gabrielli 2020)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[dubbioso]]

+ * [[dubbiosità]]

+ * [[dubbiezza]]

+ * [[indubbio]]

+ * [[dubbiamente]]

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+ ==Related words==

+ * [[dubitare]]

+ * [[due]]

+ * [[doppio]]

+ * [[la|dubius]]

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+ ==Usage notes==

+ Common phrases are ''senza dubbio'' “certainly”, ''mettere in dubbio'' “to call into question”, ''fuori dubbio'' “beyond doubt” and ''il beneficio del dubbio''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Treccani 2011)^(Devoto–Oli 2026) Dictionaries such as GRADIT, Nocentini and Treccani give the noun and the adjective separate numbered headwords, but both come from the same Latin adjective.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Nocentini 2010)^(Treccani 2011)

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+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}