stupendo Italian · revision 38822

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=before 1342, Domenico Cavalca|origins=la stupeō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /stuˈpɛn.do/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''stupendo''' (feminine stupenda, masculine plural stupendi, feminine plural stupende)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is a learned word, [[bor|la|stupendus|t=to be wondered at]], the gerundive of [[m|la|stupeō|t=to be stunned, amazed]].^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)^(TLIO) DEI cites the Latin adjective from Valerius Maximus, and Devoto calls it Late Latin.^(DEI|3664)^(Devoto 1968) It belongs with [[stupire]] and is matched by [[pms|stupend]].^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ De Vaan derives the Latin verb from [[itc-pro|*stup-ē-|t=to be stunned]] and [[ine-pro|*stup-eh₁-|t=to hit, push]], so that being “struck” became being dazed and amazed; the same root is in [[grc|τύπτω|tr=túptō|t=to strike]].^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The TLIO's first record is in Domenico Cavalca's Pisan translation of the ''Dialogues'' of Saint Gregory (before 1342), in the sense “that causes deep wonder”, for its strangeness or unexpected effects.^(TLIO) DELI dates the word to the 14th-century Italian ''Imitation of Christ''.^(DELI 1999)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In the older language ''stupendo'' described what astonishes, good or bad: a miracle, a war, a strange event.^(GDLI|20, 427)^(Tommaseo–Bellini 1861) Boiardo announced “the most stupendous war” ever told, and Ariosto's water nymph boasts that she can do ''cose stupende'' and force nature.^(GDLI|20, 427) Tommaseo–Bellini recorded a second sense, “excellent”.^(Tommaseo–Bellini 1861)

+

+ The modern word is above all about beauty: it says that something is so beautiful as to leave one amazed, and by hyperbole it is simply “very beautiful”.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Treccani 2011) In colloquial replies it expresses keen approval.^(GRADIT 2003) English borrowed ''stupend'' from it in 1621.^(DEI|3664)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * Before 1342 – Domenico Cavalca uses ''stupendo''.^(TLIO)

+ * 14th century – It appears in the Italian ''Imitation of Christ''.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1621 – English ''stupend'' is recorded.^(DEI|3664)

+ * 1741 – The noun ''stupendità'' is recorded, in Lorenzo Bellini.^(DEI|3664)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # [[m|en|stupendous]], [[m|en|wonderful]]: so beautiful that it fills one with wonder: ''Dalla terrazza si vedeva un mare stupendo.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+ # ''(hyperbolic)'' Very beautiful, very fine: ''Abbiamo passato una serata stupenda.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Treccani 2011)^(Gabrielli 2020)

+ # ''(colloquial)'' As a reply, expressing enthusiastic approval: ''Vieni anche tu? — Stupendo!''^(GRADIT 2003)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[stupendamente]]

+ * [[stupendità]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[stupire]]

+ * [[stupore]]

+ * [[stupido]]

+ * [[la|stupeō]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}