segno Italian · revision 38463

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=before 1292, Bono Giamboni|origins=la signum}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /ˈseɲ.ɲo/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''segno''' ''m'' (plural segni)^(Wiktionary)

+ In southern Italy the word has forms such as ''singo'' at Naples and ''singu'' in Calabria.^(DEI|3442) Old and dialect forms listed by the GDLI include ''ségne'', ''ségnio'', ''séno'', ''signo'' and ''sinno'', with an old feminine plural ''le signa''.^(GDLI|18, 476)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|la|signum|t=mark, sign; standard; image; constellation]].^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010)^(GRADIT 2003)^(Wiktionary) DELI gives the Latin vowel as long, Nocentini and GRADIT as short.^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010)^(GRADIT 2003)

+

+ The word is found across the Romance languages: [[fr|seing|t=signature]], [[oc|senh]], [[sc|sinnu]] and [[ro|semn]], while [[ca|senya]], [[es|seña]] and [[pt|senha]] continue the Latin neuter plural, which was taken as a feminine singular.^(Nocentini 2010)^(REW 1935) With Christianity the word also spread beyond Romance, as in [[de|Segen|t=blessing]].^(DEI|3442)^(REW 1935) The sense “bell”, found in [[m|fro|seing]] and [[m|oc|senh]] and in the compound [[fr|tocsin]], is first recorded in Gregory of Tours.^(DEI|3442)^(REW 1935)

+

+ The Latin noun is usually explained as a derivative of the root of [[m|la|secō|t=to cut]], so that it first meant “a mark cut in”, “something carved out”.^(Nocentini 2010)^(de Vaan 2008)^(GRADIT 2003) De Vaan reconstructs [[itc-pro|*sekno-|t=statue, sign]] and [[ine-pro|*sek(h₂)-no-|t=cut]], and cites Oscan cognates meaning “statue”.^(de Vaan 2008) DELI and Treccani treat the link with the verb as only possible, and Wiktionary also allows [[ine-pro|*sekʷ-|t=to follow]].^(DELI 1999)^(Treccani 2011)^(Wiktionary) Devoto compares [[m|la|dignus]] beside [[m|la|decet]] and [[m|la|lignum]] beside [[m|la|legō]] for the change of /k/ to /g/ before /n/.^(Devoto 1968|399) The Italian ⟨gn⟩ stands for the long palatal nasal /ɲɲ/.^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The first record is in Bono Giamboni, before 1292, in the sense “an evident indication from which something can be inferred”.^(DELI 1999)^(DEI) Nocentini and GRADIT put the word in the first half of the 13th century.^(Nocentini 2010)^(GRADIT 2003)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Dante, before 1321, already uses ''segno'' for a target, for a trace or print left on a surface, and for any written mark that stands for something, especially something abstract;^(DELI 1999) Boccaccio has it in 1353 for a nod or gesture.^(DELI 1999) In Old Italian it could also mean a banner, a statue, a constellation, and a spot or bruise on the skin,^(DEI|3442) and Giovanni Villani writes of the ''segno celeste'', a sign of the zodiac.^(Prati 1951|905)

+

+ Derivatives grew around the word: ''segnale'' “agreed signal” is in the ''Novellino'' at the end of the 13th century, ''segnalare'' in Annibal Caro before 1566, and ''segnalibro'' “bookmark” in 1891.^(DELI 1999) In music ''segno'' names the sign that marks where a repeat begins or ends;^(DIFIT) French took it in 1703, German in 1732 and English in the 19th century.^(DIFIT)

+

+ Modern senses include the sign in medicine, which the doctor observes as distinct from the symptom the patient feels, and the linguistic sign of semiotics, a signifier joined to a signified.^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * Before 1292 – Bono Giamboni uses ''segno'' for an indication of something.^(DELI 1999)

+ * Late 13th century – The ''Novellino'' has the derivative ''segnale''.^(DELI 1999)

+ * Before 1321 – Dante uses the word for a target, a print and a written sign.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1353 – Boccaccio uses it for a nod or gesture.^(DELI 1999)

+ * Before 1561 – The musical sense is recorded.^(DIFIT)

+ * 1703 – French borrows ''segno'' as a musical term.^(DIFIT)

+ * 1732 – German ''Segno'' is recorded.^(DIFIT)

+ * 1891 – ''Segnalibro'' “bookmark” is recorded.^(DELI 1999)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A [[m|en|mark]] or trace left on a surface: ''Il gatto ha lasciato i segni delle unghie sul divano.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Gabrielli 2020)

+ # A conventional written [[m|en|symbol]] standing for a sound, number, operation or idea: ''il segno della moltiplicazione''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Gabrielli 2020)

+ # A fact or circumstance that shows or foretells something; an [[m|en|omen]]: ''Quelle nuvole sono segno di temporale.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Treccani 2011)

+ # A [[m|en|gesture]] or act that expresses a feeling or intention: ''Mi fece segno di sedermi.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Treccani 2011)

+ # A distinguishing feature by which someone or something is recognised.^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Gabrielli 2020)

+ # ''(medicine)'' A manifestation of disease that the doctor finds on examination.^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+ # ''(linguistics)'' The basic unit of communication, a signifier joined to a signified.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+ # A sign of the [[m|en|zodiac]].^(Wiktionary)^(Treccani 2011)

+ # The [[m|en|target]] aimed at in shooting.^(Wiktionary)^(DELI 1999)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[contrassegno]]

+ * [[segnacaso]]

+ * [[segnacolo]]

+ * [[segnalamento]]

+ * [[segnalare]]

+ * [[segnalato]]

+ * [[segnalatore]]

+ * [[segnalazione]]

+ * [[segnale]]

+ * [[segnaletica]]

+ * [[segnaletico]]

+ * [[segnalibro]]

+ * [[segnalinee]]

+ * [[segnaposto]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[segnare]]

+ * [[insegna]]

+ * [[la|signum]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Common phrases include ''in segno di'' (as a token of), ''lasciare il segno'' (to leave a lasting mark), ''segno della croce'' (the sign of the cross), ''segni particolari'' (distinguishing marks in identity documents) and ''buon segno!'', ''brutto segno!'' (a good or bad sign).^(GRADIT 2003)^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Treccani 2011)^(Gabrielli 2020)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}