perdono Italian · revision 38719

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=back-formation|attested=13th century, Monte Andrea|origins=la dōnō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /perˈdo.no/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''perdono''' ''m'' (plural perdoni)^(Wiktionary)

+ GDLI records the old forms ''par dono'' and ''perduono''.^(GDLI)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is a back-formation from [[perdonare|t=to forgive]].^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010)^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto 1968)^(Wiktionary) GDLI compares [[fr|pardon]], recorded in 1135.^(GDLI) The verb is [[la-lat|perdōnō|alt=perdōnāre|t=to grant, to forgive]], Medieval Latin for DELI and GRADIT, who explain it as classical [[m|la|condōnō|t=to give up, remit]] with a change of prefix;^(DELI 1999)^(GRADIT 2003) Nocentini derives it from [[m|la|dōnō|t=to give]] with [[m|la|per-]].^(Nocentini 2010)

+

+ The same verb is [[fr|pardonner]], [[oc|perdonar]], [[ca|perdonar]], [[es|perdonar]] and [[pt|perdoar]], each with its noun formed in the same way: [[es|perdón]], [[pt|perdão]].^(Nocentini 2010)^(Körting 1907)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ DELI's first record is in Monte Andrea, in the 13th century, in the sense “forgiveness of a fault and of its punishment”.^(DELI 1999)^(GRADIT 2003) The poet writes ''S'aggio fallato, sol me ne ripilglio: / di ciò non chero perdon né merzede'' (“If I have done wrong, I blame only myself: for it I ask neither pardon nor mercy”).^(GDLI)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In Dante's ''Purgatorio'' the Pierides felt a blow ''tal, che disperar perdono'' (“such that they despaired of pardon”).^(GDLI) By 1300 the word also meant the indulgence the Church granted to those who visited certain shrines, and the place where it was granted;^(DELI 1999) the best known is the ''Perdono d'Assisi''.^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026) In Tuscany a ''perdono'' is also a village feast.^(Devoto–Oli 2026) Tasso uses it for a polite “excuse” (before 1595), as in today's ''chiedo perdono''.^(DELI 1999)^(Tommaseo–Bellini 1861)

+

+ In law ''perdono giudiziale'' is a judge's pardon for a minor, which extinguishes a minor offence.^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026) German borrowed the word as ''Perdon'' in 1596, and used it until the 18th century beside the French ''Pardon''.^(DIFIT)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 13th century – Monte Andrea uses ''perdono''.^(DELI 1999)^(GRADIT 2003)

+ * 1300 – A Cavalcanti document records the sense “indulgence” and the place where it is granted.^(DELI 1999)

+ * Before 1595 – Tasso uses it for “excuse”.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1596 – German ''Perdon'' is recorded.^(DIFIT)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # [[m|en|forgiveness]], [[m|en|pardon]]: giving up revenge or punishment towards someone who has done wrong: ''Le ha chiesto perdono in ginocchio.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(law)'' Remission of a penalty, by an act of clemency, ''perdono giudiziale'', a judicial pardon for a minor.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+ # ''(religion)'' The remission of sins granted by God; an [[m|en|indulgence]] granted by the Church, and the place where it is granted.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+ # ''(regional, Tuscany)'' A village feast.^(Devoto–Oli 2026)

+ # In polite formulas, an apology, excuse: ''Chiedo perdono, ho sbagliato porta.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[perdonare]]

+ * [[perdonabile]]

+ * [[condono]]

+ * [[dono]]

+ * [[fr|pardon]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}