splendido Italian · revision 38993

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1260, Laude cortonesi|origins=la splendeō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /ˈsplɛn.di.do/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''splendido''' (feminine splendida, masculine plural splendidi, feminine plural splendide)^(Wiktionary)

+ Old forms include ''splendedo'' and ''sprendido''.^(GDLI)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is a learned word, [[bor|la|splendidus|t=bright, brilliant; magnificent]], from [[m|la|splendeō|t=to shine, to be bright]] with the adjective suffix [[m|la|-idus]].^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010)^(GRADIT 2003)^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Wiktionary) The same Latin adjective gave [[fr|splendide]], [[es|espléndido]] and [[pt|esplêndido]].^(Körting 1907)

+

+ De Vaan derives the Latin verb from [[itc-pro|*splnd-ē-]] and [[ine-pro|*splnd(h)-eh₁-|t=to be manifest]], comparing [[sga|sluindid|t=to declare, to name]]; a link with the root of [[got|𐍃𐍀𐌹𐌻𐌻|tr=spill|t=tale]] is possible but unproven.^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ DELI's first record is in the Laude of Cortona (about 1260), where the sun's ray passing through glass is called ''splendidissima'', “most brilliant”: the first sense is “shining with a vivid light”.^(DELI 1999)^(GDLI) GRADIT dates the word to 1304–1308.^(GRADIT 2003)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ From light the adjective passed to beauty and display: “very beautiful, magnificent, luxurious” is recorded in Boccaccio (before 1375), who calls a man ''splendido per molte ricchezze'' (“splendid through great wealth”).^(DELI 1999)^(Tommaseo–Bellini 1861) The sense “lavish in spending and giving” appears in Filarete (before 1465), and survives in the phrase ''fare lo splendido'', to play the big spender.^(DELI 1999)^(Treccani 2011)^(Gabrielli 2020)

+

+ In 1905 Alfredo Panzini complained that the word, “used in the foreign manner”, had become one of the commonest in the language, applied to a witty remark, a dinner, a risotto or a beard alike.^(DELI 1999) Today it is a basic word for anything excellent or admirable.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1260 – The Laude of Cortona use the superlative ''splendidissima'' of a ray of light.^(DELI 1999)^(GDLI)

+ * Before 1375 – Boccaccio uses ''splendido'' for “magnificent, luxurious”.^(DELI 1999)

+ * Before 1465 – Filarete uses it for “generous in spending”.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1905 – Panzini criticises the overuse of the word.^(DELI 1999)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Shining with an intense light, [[m|en|brilliant]]; of weather, bright and clear: ''Domenica c'era un sole splendido.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+ # Of remarkable beauty, [[m|en|magnificent]], [[m|en|gorgeous]]: ''Dalla terrazza si vede un panorama splendido.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Treccani 2011)

+ # Sumptuous, luxurious: ''una cena splendida''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)

+ # Excellent, outstanding; admirable for one's qualities: ''Ha ottenuto un risultato splendido all'esame.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+ # ''(literary)'' Illustrious.^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Treccani 2011)

+ # ''(uncommon)'' [[m|en|lavish]], generous in spending and giving.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # A person who spends or gives lavishly, especially for show, ''fare lo splendido'', to play the big spender.^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Treccani 2011)^(Gabrielli 2020)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[splendidamente]]

+ * [[splendidezza]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[splendere]]

+ * [[splendore]]

+ * [[risplendere]]

+ * [[la|splendidus]]

+ * [[en|splendid]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}