certamente Italian · revision 38391

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=c. 1230–1250, Giacomo da Lentini}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /t͡ʃer.taˈmen.te/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is formed in [[af|it|certo|-mente]], from the adjective [[certo|t=certain]] and the adverb suffix.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Treccani 2011)^(Wiktionary) The TLIO derives it from the adjective in the sense “sure, certain”.^(TLIO) Tommaseo compares the adverb [[la|certē]].^(Tommaseo–Bellini 1861)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The TLIO's first record is in Giacomo da Lentini, the Sicilian poet, about 1230–1250, in a Tuscan copy, with the sense “with certainty, without doubt”, also as a general intensifier.^(TLIO)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In Old Italian the adverb also meant “as a proof shows”, “confidently”, “really” and “skilfully”, and ''certamente che'' was a conjunction “provided that”.^(TLIO) Bono Giamboni writes that the moon is proved ''certamente'' to be smaller than the sun and the earth by their eclipses.^(GDLI)^(Tommaseo–Bellini 1861) The superlative ''certissimamente'' is already in the TLIO's forms and is used by Tasso.^(TLIO)^(GDLI)

+

+ Today the adverb is mostly used as a sentence adverb and as an answer meaning “of course”.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Treccani 2011)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1230–1250 – Giacomo da Lentini uses ''certamente''.^(TLIO)

+ * Second half of the 13th century – The date given by GRADIT and Devoto–Oli.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)

+ * Before 1292 – Bono Giamboni uses it of a proof by eclipses.^(GDLI)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adverb===

+ # [[m|en|certainly]], without doubt: ''Domani pioverà certamente.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Treccani 2011)

+ # As a sentence adverb or an aside, to strengthen or concede a statement: ''Certamente, non è colpa tua.''^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Treccani 2011)

+ # As an answer, [[m|en|of course]], [[m|en|sure]]: ''«Mi presti la penna?» «Certamente.»''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[certo]]

+ * [[certezza]]

+ * [[sicuramente]]

+ * [[la|certē]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ ''Certamente sì'' and ''certamente no'' strengthen an answer.^(Gabrielli 2020) Treccani notes a use that presents a guess as a certainty, as in an inference from someone's late arrival.^(Treccani 2011)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}