proposito Italian · revision 38459

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1293–1294, Dante|origins=la pōnō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /proˈpɔ.zi.to/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''proposito''' ''m'' (plural propositi)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|la|prōpositum|t=plan, intention; theme]], the neuter of [[m|la|prōpositus]] used as a noun, the past participle of [[m|la|prōpōnō|t=to put forward, propose]], so literally “what is put forward”.^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010)^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Wiktionary) The Latin verb is [[m|la|prō-|t=forward]] and [[m|la|pōnō|t=to put]].^(Wiktionary)

+

+ DEI notes an old adjective of the same form meaning “put forward”, the Italian form of the participle, and compares the phrase meaning “by the way” with [[fr|à propos]], from [[m|fr|propos]], a noun from [[m|fr|proposer|t=to propose]].^(DEI|3107)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ DELI's first record is Dante's ''Vita Nuova'' (1293–1294), in the sense “the subject of a discussion”.^(DELI 1999) Zingarelli dates the word 1294, and Nocentini, GRADIT and Devoto–Oli before 1306.^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Nocentini 2010)^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Dante uses the word, before 1321, for a firm resolution to do something or to behave in a certain way.^(DELI 1999) In the chroniclers and Boccaccio it is a plan or intention that can be changed: Matteo Villani's king “cambiò proposito per non correre in peggio” (“changed his plan so as not to come to worse”).^(GDLI|14, 655)^(Tommaseo–Bellini 1861)

+

+ The phrase ''a proposito'', “fittingly, at the right time”, is in Giovanni Villani in the 14th century, and in the 16th century Grazzini uses it to bring up something that has just come to mind.^(DEI|3107) In Old Italian ''proposito'' was also used for the head of an office, a form of ''preposito''.^(GDLI|14, 658)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1293–1294 – Dante uses ''proposito'' for the subject of a discussion.^(DELI 1999)

+ * Before 1321 – Dante uses it for a firm resolution.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 14th century – Giovanni Villani uses ''a proposito'' “fittingly”.^(DEI|3107)

+ * 16th century – Grazzini uses ''a proposito'' to introduce a new topic.^(DEI|3107)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A firm [[m|en|resolution]] to do something: ''Ho fatto il proposito di alzarmi presto.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Treccani 2011)

+ # An [[m|en|intention]] or plan: ''Sono uscito col proposito di comprare il pane.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Wiktionary)

+ # An aim or [[m|en|purpose]]: ''Il proposito del libro è divertire.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Wiktionary)

+ # The subject of a discussion: ''Non ho niente da aggiungere in proposito.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[sproposito]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[proporre]]

+ * [[propositivo]]

+ * [[proposizione]]

+ * [[proponimento]]

+ * [[fr|propos]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Common phrases are ''a proposito'' (by the way; at the right moment), ''a proposito di'' (speaking of, regarding), ''di proposito'' (on purpose), ''in proposito'' (on the matter), ''a che proposito?'' (in connection with what?) and ''fuori proposito'' or ''fuori di proposito'' (out of place).^(GRADIT 2003)^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Treccani 2011)^(Gabrielli 2020) ''Buoni propositi'' are good resolutions.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}