mantenere Italian · revision 38414

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=before 1250, Frederick II and Odo delle Colonne|origins=la manus, la teneō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /man.teˈne.re/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''mantenere''' (first-person singular present mantèngo, first-person singular past historic manténni or mantènni, past participle mantenùto, first-person singular future manterrò, auxiliary avére)^(Wiktionary)

+ The fuller form [[roa-oit|manutenere]] is used in a Sienese statute of 1288, and the GDLI also records old ''mantenne''.^(DELI 1999)^(GDLI) Conjugated like [[tenere]]: ''io mantengo'', ''manterrò'', ''mantenni''.^(Wiktionary)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|la-vul|*manūteneō|alt=*manūtenēre|t=to keep, support]], from a phrase meaning “to hold with the hand”, from the ablative of [[la|manus|t=hand]] and [[m|la|teneō|t=to hold]].^(Nocentini 2010)^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Wiktionary) Nocentini glosses the compound as “to keep under the protection of the hand”.^(Nocentini 2010) Wiktionary treats it as Late Latin; the GDLI calls the Italian verb learned.^(Wiktionary)^(GDLI)

+

+ The word is shared with the western Romance languages: [[fr|maintenir]], [[oc|mantener]], [[ca|mantenir]], [[es|mantener]], [[pt|manter]] and [[rm|mantnair]] in the Engadine.^(Nocentini 2010)^(REW 1935)^(DEI|2355) Its Medieval Latin derivative [[m|la-med|manutenentia]] gave [[fr|maintenance]] in the 13th century.^(DEI|2355) The Latin verb for “to hold” goes back to [[ine-pro|*ten-|t=to stretch]].^(de Vaan 2008) The origin of the word for “hand” is disputed.^(Wiktionary)^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The first records, before 1250, are in the Sicilian poets Frederick II and Odo delle Colonne, with the sense “to make something last, keep it going”.^(DELI 1999) Frederick advises the wise man never to be carried away by good fortune but always to keep up courtesy (''mantegna cortesia'').^(GDLI)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The other main senses appear in the 13th and 14th centuries: “to conserve” in Lotto Pisano about 1285, “to protect, defend” and “to keep, fulfil” (a promise, an obligation) in a Sienese butchers' statute of 1288, “to provide for the running of something” in Brunetto Latini before 1294, and “to provide someone with a living” in Paolo da Certaldo before 1370.^(DELI 1999) The reflexive ''mantenersi'' “to support oneself” is in Monaldo da Sofena before 1293, and the sense “to stay, remain” in Bonagiunta Orbicciani before about 1257.^(DELI 1999)

+

+ The past participle used as a noun, ''mantenuto'', a man kept by a lover, is recorded in 1863, and ''mantenuta'' in the 19th century.^(Nocentini 2010)^(DEI|2355) In southern Italy the verb can still mean “to hold in one's hand”, close to the Latin phrase.^(Wiktionary) German borrowed ''mantenieren'' about 1638.^(DIFIT)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * Before 1250 – Frederick II and Odo delle Colonne use ''mantenere''.^(DELI 1999)

+ * Before 1257 – Bonagiunta Orbicciani has the sense “to stay, remain”.^(DELI 1999)

+ * About 1285 – Lotto Pisano uses it for “to conserve”.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1288 – A Sienese statute has ''manutenere'' “to keep, observe”.^(DELI 1999)

+ * Before 1294 – Brunetto Latini uses it for the upkeep of something.^(DELI 1999)

+ * Before 1370 – Paolo da Certaldo uses it for “to provide a living for”.^(DELI 1999)

+ * About 1638 – German ''mantenieren'' is recorded.^(DIFIT)

+ * 1863 – The noun ''mantenuto'' is first recorded.^(Nocentini 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To [[m|en|maintain]], to keep up, make something last unchanged: ''mantenere buoni rapporti con i vicini''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+ # To keep in a certain state or condition: ''Il ghiaccio mantiene fresco il pesce.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Treccani 2011)

+ # To hold, defend (a position, a title): ''La squadra ha mantenuto il primo posto.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Treccani 2011)

+ # To keep (a promise, one's word): ''mantenere la parola data''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+ # To [[m|en|support]], to provide someone with the means to live: ''Lavora per mantenere i figli agli studi.''^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Treccani 2011)

+ # To pay for and look after the running of something; to [[m|en|upkeep]]: ''mantenere le strade''.^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Treccani 2011)

+ # ''(reflexive, mantenersi)'' To support oneself; to stay, remain (''mantenersi in forma'').^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(GRADIT 2003)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[mantenimento]]

+ * [[mantenuto]]

+ * [[mantenitore]]

+ * [[mantenibile]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[manutenzione]]

+ * [[mano]]

+ * [[tenere]]

+ * [[fr|maintenir]]

+ * [[es|mantener]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ As a wish or thanks, ''Dio ti mantenga!'' means “may God keep you in good health”.^(GRADIT 2003) ''Mantenere la linea'' is to keep one's figure.^(DELI 1999)^(GRADIT 2003)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}