sostenere Italian · revision 38793

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

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /sos.teˈne.re/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''sostenere''' (first-person singular present sostèngo, first-person singular past historic sosténni or sostènni, past participle sostenùto, first-person singular future sosterrò, auxiliary avére)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|la|sustineō|t=to hold up, to support; to endure]].^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010)^(GRADIT 2003)^(Wiktionary) Battisti and Alessio call the verb pan-Romance, but not Romanian:^(DEI|3563) the same word is [[fr|soutenir]], [[oc|sostener]], [[ca|sostenir]], [[es|sostener]] and [[pt|soster]].^(Nocentini 2010)^(REW 1935)

+

+ The Latin verb is a compound of [[m|la|sub-|t=under]], in its variant [[m|la|sus-]], and [[m|la|teneō|t=to hold]].^(DELI 1999)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Treccani 2011)^(Wiktionary) The vowel of the simple verb became /i/ in the open inner syllable, the normal Latin vowel weakening.^(Devoto 1968) The simple verb goes back to [[ine-pro|*ten-]].^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ DELI's first record is in Bono Giamboni's ''Libro de' Vizî e delle Virtudi'', before 1292, for bearing the weight of something.^(DELI 1999)^(GRADIT 2003)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Before the end of the 13th century the verb already had its figurative senses: to help and protect someone in the ''Novellino'', to maintain an opinion in Brunetto Latini, and reflexively to keep oneself upright in the ''Tristano''.^(DELI 1999) In 1310–1312 Dino Compagni uses it for taking on a moral or material burden.^(DELI 1999) Dante's guide ''con le braccia m'avvinse e mi sostenne'', held him in his arms.^(GDLI)^(Tommaseo–Bellini 1861) Old Italian also used it for “to suffer, to endure”, “to permit”, “to keep in prison” and “to delay a payment or a delivery”, all now gone.^(DEI|3563)

+

+ In 1577 Filippo Sassetti uses the verb for keeping up the price of goods, and the economic use survives in ''sostenere i prezzi''.^(DELI 1999)^(Zingarelli 2010) The past participle ''sostenuto'' came to mean “reserved, aloof” (before 1686), “elevated” of style (1599), a broad slow tempo in music (1858) and a sustained effort in sport (1970).^(DELI 1999) The 19th century added ''sostenersi'' for keeping one's strength.^(DELI 1999) Today the verb is basic vocabulary.^(GRADIT 2003)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * Before 1292 – Bono Giamboni uses ''sostenere'' “to bear a weight”.^(DELI 1999)

+ * Late 13th century – The ''Novellino'' uses it for “to help, protect”.^(DELI 1999)

+ * Before 1294 – Brunetto Latini uses it for “to assert”.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1293 – The past participle ''sostenuto'' is recorded.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1305–1306 – Giordano da Pisa uses ''sostenimento''.^(DELI 1999)

+ * Before 1348 – Giovanni Villani uses ''sostenitore''.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1577 – Filippo Sassetti uses it of keeping prices high.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1682 – Lorenzo Magalotti uses ''sostenibile''.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1873 – ''Sostenersi'' “to keep up one's strength” is recorded by Tommaseo–Bellini.^(DELI 1999)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To [[m|en|support]], hold up, bear the weight of: ''Quattro colonne sostengono il portico.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+ # To keep from falling; to hold suspended.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)

+ # ''(figurative)'' To help someone in difficulty: ''Gli amici lo hanno sostenuto dopo il lutto.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+ # To [[m|en|back]], favour, promote a cause, a party or a candidate.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+ # To [[m|en|maintain]], to assert with conviction: ''Sostiene di non averlo mai visto.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+ # To bear a cost or a burden; to take an examination or an interview.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+ # To withstand an attack or someone's gaze; to tolerate drink.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Treccani 2011)

+ # To hold an office; to play a part.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Treccani 2011)

+ # To keep up a price or a value; to sustain a note in singing.^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Treccani 2011)

+ # To [[m|en|sustain]], give strength, nourish: ''Questo brodo sostiene.''^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+ # ''(reflexive, sostenersi)'' To stand up, to stay upright; to keep oneself going.^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(DELI 1999)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[sostegno]]

+ * [[sostenibile]]

+ * [[sostenitore]]

+ * [[sostenuto]]

+ * [[sostenimento]]

+ * [[sostenutezza]]

+ * [[insostenibile]]

+ * [[sostenenza]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[sostentare]]

+ * [[tenere]]

+ * [[la|sustineō]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}