vento Italian · revision 38890

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=before 1294, Brunetto Latini|origins=ine-pro *h₂weh₁-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /ˈvɛn.to/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''vento''' ''m'' (plural venti)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|la|ventus|t=wind]].^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010)^(GRADIT 2003)^(Wiktionary) The word is found in all the Romance languages: [[fr|vent]], [[oc|vent]], [[ca|vent]], [[es|viento]], [[pt|vento]], [[sc|bentu]], [[ro|vânt]] and [[dlm|viant]].^(Nocentini 2010)^(REW 1935) The DÉRom reconstructs a Proto-Romance masculine noun for all branches except Romanian, where the noun became neuter.^(DÉRom)

+

+ The Latin word continues [[itc-pro|*wentos]], from [[ine-pro|*h₂wéh₁n̥ts|t=blowing]], originally the present participle of [[ine-pro|*h₂weh₁-|t=to blow]]: the wind was named as “the blower”.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Nocentini 2010)^(Wiktionary) The same formation is [[cy|gwynt]], [[hit|huwant-]], [[sa|वात|tr=vā́ta]], [[got|𐍅𐌹𐌽𐌳𐍃|tr=winds]], [[goh|wint]] and [[txb|yente]].^(de Vaan 2008)^(Nocentini 2010) De Vaan derives the short vowel of the Latin word from an earlier long one by Osthoff's shortening; others think the laryngeal was lost without lengthening the vowel.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ DELI's first record is in Brunetto Latini (before 1294), who defines wind as “nothing other than a beating of the air” (''vento non è altro che dibattimento d'aere'').^(DELI 1999)^(Tommaseo–Bellini 1861) Giacomo da Lentini already has the ''dolce vento'' in his poetry.^(GDLI|21, 748)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Dante used ''vento'' for “air, breath” and, figuratively, for something empty and futile (1313–1319); from Jacopone da Todi on, 14th-century writers also used it for “vainglory”.^(DELI 1999) Many of these uses were already Latin: Latin had favourable winds in a proper and figurative sense, “giving words to the winds”, and “living on wind”.^(DELI 1999) The four cardinal winds, used for “every direction”, are named by Francesco da Buti (before 1406); the phrase has a model in Greek, as in Matthew's gathering “from the four winds”.^(DELI 1999) ''Lottare con i mulini a vento'' comes from ''Don Quixote'', with Spanish ''luchar contra molinos de viento''.^(DELI 1999) Old Italian also had the plural ''ventora''.^(Tommaseo–Bellini 1861)

+

+ Technical senses appeared later: in the 16th century Biringuccio uses ''venti'' for the ropes that hold a tall structure steady, a sense Devoto–Oli traces to Spanish ''viento''.^(DELI 1999)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(DEI|4013) In 1839 the word is recorded for the windage of muzzle-loading guns, the difference between the bore and the ball.^(DELI 1999)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * Before 1294 – Brunetto Latini defines ''vento''.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1313–1319 – Dante uses ''vento'' for “something futile”.^(DELI 1999)

+ * Before 1321 – Dante uses it for “air, breath”.^(DELI 1999)

+ * Before 1406 – Francesco da Buti names the four cardinal winds.^(DELI 1999)

+ * Before 1537 – Biringuccio uses ''venti'' for stay ropes.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1839 – The sense “windage” of guns is recorded.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1879 – ''Ventata'', a gust of wind, is recorded.^(DELI 1999)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # [[m|en|wind]], the natural movement of air: ''Stanotte il vento ha piegato gli alberi.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+ # ''(meteorology)'' The movement of air masses caused by differences of pressure and temperature.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Treccani 2011)

+ # A [[m|en|draught]], moving air: ''Fammi un po' di vento con quel giornale.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+ # ''(figurative)'' A sign of what is coming: ''venti di guerra''.^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+ # ''(euphemism)'' A fart.^(GRADIT 2003)

+ # ''(figurative)'' Vanity, conceit; something empty and fleeting.^(GRADIT 2003)

+ # ''(nautical, building)'' A [[m|en|guy rope]] or stay that keeps a tall or projecting structure steady.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+ # ''(metallurgy)'' Hot air blown into a blast furnace.^(GRADIT 2003)

+ # ''(firearms)'' In muzzle-loaders, [[m|en|windage]], the difference in diameter between the ball and the bore.^(GRADIT 2003)^(DELI 1999)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[ventata]]

+ * [[venticello]]

+ * [[ventoso]]

+ * [[ventosa]]

+ * [[ventosità]]

+ * [[ventola]]

+ * [[ventarola]]

+ * [[avventare]]

+ * [[avventato]]

+ * [[sventare]]

+ * [[sventato]]

+ * [[sopravvento]]

+ * [[sottovento]]

+ * [[controvento]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[ventilare]]

+ * [[ventilatore]]

+ * [[ventaglio]]

+ * [[la|ventus]]

+ * [[fr|vent]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Common phrases include ''ai quattro venti'' (to everyone, everywhere), ''qual buon vento?'' (said to a welcome, unexpected visitor), ''mulino a vento'' and ''giacca a vento''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026) The proverb ''chi semina vento raccoglie tempesta'' says that whoever does harm gets worse in return.^(Treccani 2011)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}