meraviglioso Italian · revision 38446

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=1242–1243, G. Fava (as mereveglosa)|origins=la mīror}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /me.ra.viʎˈʎo.zo/, /me.ra.viʎˈʎo.so/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''meraviglioso''' (feminine meravigliosa, masculine plural meravigliosi, feminine plural meravigliose)^(Wiktionary)

+ The Tuscan and literary form is ''maraviglioso''.^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Treccani 2011) Old Italian also wrote ''maraveglioso'', ''maraveioso'', ''maravellioso'' and ''merviglioso''.^(GDLI)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[af|it|meraviglia|-oso]], from the noun meaning “wonder”.^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010)^(GRADIT 2003)^(Wiktionary) GRADIT and the GDLI compare [[fro|merveillos]] and [[pro|merveillos]], recorded from 1080, and modern [[fr|merveilleux]].^(GRADIT 2003)^(GDLI)

+

+ The noun is [[inh|la|mirabilia|alt=mīrābilia|t=wonderful things]], the neuter plural of [[m|la|mirabilis|alt=mīrābilis|t=wonderful]], taken as a feminine singular, through a spoken form [[m|la-vul|*merabilia]].^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010)^(Wiktionary) The adjective comes from [[m|la|mīror|t=to wonder at]].^(Nocentini 2010) The same noun is [[fr|merveille]], [[oc|meravelha]], [[ca|meravella]], [[es|maravilla]] and [[pt|maravilha]].^(Nocentini 2010)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The first record is ''mereveglosa'' in G. Fava, 1242–1243; the form ''meraviglioso'', “causing wonder and admiration”, is in Brunetto Latini, before 1294.^(DELI 1999)^(GRADIT 2003) In his ''Rettorica'' Latini quotes Virgil promising to tell “very wonderful and great things of the little bees” (''cose molto meravigliose e grandi delle picciole api'').^(GDLI)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In Old Italian the adjective also meant “extraordinary, incredible”, in good or bad sense, and even “frightening”: Dante sees a figure come swimming up through the dark air, ''maravigliosa ad ogne cor sicuro'', “fearful even to a steady heart”.^(DELI 1999)^(GRADIT 2003)^(Zingarelli 2010) It could also describe the person who wonders, “amazed”, as in Ariosto's ''maraviglioso corre e stupefatto''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Tommaseo–Bellini 1861) Those senses are now literary or obsolete.^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+

+ The modern word praises something splendid or someone admirable, often as a simple superlative of approval.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Treccani 2011)^(Gabrielli 2020) As a noun, ''il meraviglioso'' names the supernatural or magical element of a work of fiction, such as the marvels of the ''Orlando furioso'' or the Homeric poems; the Baroque ''poetica del meraviglioso'' aimed at astonishment.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Gabrielli 2020) The form with ''mara-'' long alternated with ''mera-''; for the noun it was held to suit prose better than poetry.^(DELI 1999)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1242–1243 – Gerardo Fava writes ''mereveglosa''.^(DELI 1999)^(GRADIT 2003)

+ * Before 1294 – Brunetto Latini uses ''meraviglioso''.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 13th century – The ''Libro della natura degli animali'' has ''meravigliosa natura'', “extraordinary nature”.^(DELI 1999)

+ * About 1356 – Andrea Lancia writes ''maraviglioso sognio'', “an incredible dream”.^(DELI 1999)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # [[m|en|wonderful]], [[m|en|marvellous]], splendid: ''Dal terrazzo si gode una vista meravigliosa.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+ # Of a person, admirable for their qualities: ''Sua nonna era una donna meravigliosa.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Gabrielli 2020)

+ # ''(literary)'' Extraordinary, [[m|en|incredible]], also in a bad sense, or frightening.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+ # ''(obsolete)'' Amazed, astonished.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Treccani 2011)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # What causes wonder: ''Il meraviglioso è che nessuno se ne sia accorto.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Treccani 2011)

+ # ''(literature)'' The [[m|en|supernatural]] or magical element in a work of fiction.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[meravigliosamente]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[meraviglia]]

+ * [[meravigliare]]

+ * [[mirabile]]

+ * [[fr|merveilleux]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}