dono Italian · revision 39013

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=early 13th century, Uguccione da Lodi|origins=ine-pro *deh₃-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /ˈdo.no/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''dono''' ''m'' (plural doni)^(Wiktionary)

+ Old Italian and Tuscan also had a feminine plural [[roa-oit|dónora]], now archaic.^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(DEI|1382) Old Italian forms include [[m|roa-oit|duono]] and [[m|roa-oit|don]].^(TLIO)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|la|dōnum|t=gift]].^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010)^(GRADIT 2003)^(Wiktionary) The word is pan-Romance, except Romanian: [[fr|don]], [[oc|do]], [[ca|do]], [[es|don]], [[rm|dun]] in the Engadine and [[sc|donu]] in Logudorese.^(Nocentini 2010)^(REW 1935)^(DEI|1382)

+

+ The Latin noun belongs to the family of [[m|la|dō|t=to give]] (Italian [[dare]]), as “what is given”.^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010) It goes back to [[itc-pro|*dōnom]] and [[ine-pro|*deh₃-no-]] or [[m|ine-pro|*doh₃-no-|t=gift]], from the root [[m|ine-pro|*deh₃-|t=to give]].^(de Vaan 2008)^(Wiktionary) Its cognates include [[osc|dunúm]], [[sa|दान|tr=dā́na|t=gift]], [[sga|dán]] and [[lt|duõnis]]; [[grc|δῶρον|tr=dôron]] and [[cu|даръ|tr=darŭ]] have a different suffix.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Nocentini 2010)^(Devoto 1968) Isidore of Seville already explained the noun by the verb “to give”.^(GDLI)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The TLIO's first record is in the Cremonese poet Uguccione da Lodi, early in the 13th century.^(TLIO) Zingarelli dates the word to before 1250, and DELI to Florentine texts of 1272–1278, in the sense of a favour or privilege granted.^(Zingarelli 2010)^(DELI 1999)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Old Italian already had the main modern senses: the free giving of something, the gift itself, a favour granted, and a natural quality or talent.^(TLIO)^(DELI 1999) Other old senses have gone: alms given in charity, presents given to a bride beside the dowry, a reward, a tax, and interest on a sum of money;^(TLIO)^(DEI|1382) ''dono di tempo'', literally “gift of time”, meant usury.^(TLIO)^(DEI|1382) Dante wrote in the ''Convivio'' that a gift should match the one who receives it, and Boccaccio's Federigo is asked for the ''dono'' of his falcon.^(GDLI)

+

+ A religious sense stands beside the secular one: the seven ''doni dello Spirito Santo'', the gifts of the Holy Spirit.^(Zingarelli 2010)^(GRADIT 2003) Since the 20th century ''dono'' is also used after a noun like an adjective, in ''pacco dono'' “gift parcel”.^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * Early 13th century – Uguccione da Lodi uses ''dono''.^(TLIO)

+ * 1272–1278 – Florentine texts use it for a favour or privilege.^(DELI 1999)

+ * Before 1292 – Bono Giamboni uses it for a present and for a natural quality.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 14th century – ''Dono di tempo'' is recorded for usury.^(DEI|1382)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # The act of giving: ''Ha ricevuto quell'anello in dono dalla nonna.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+ # A [[m|en|gift]] or [[regalo|alt=present]]: ''Gli ospiti portarono un dono per il bambino.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Treccani 2011)

+ # ''(figurative)'' A favour or blessing: ''Quella vincita è stata un dono del cielo.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Gabrielli 2020)

+ # A natural [[m|en|talent]] or gift: ''Ha il dono di mettere tutti a loro agio.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+ # ''(chiefly plural)'' The products of nature: ''i doni del mare e dei campi''.^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Gabrielli 2020)^(Treccani 2011)

+ # ''(historical)'' A tax rebate granted to one who paid in advance.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Treccani 2011)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[donare]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[dare]]

+ * [[donazione]]

+ * [[la|donum]]

+ * [[fr|don]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ ''Avere il dono della parola'' is to be eloquent;^(GRADIT 2003)^(Zingarelli 2010) ''avere il dono delle lingue'' is to learn languages easily.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Zingarelli 2010) After a noun ''dono'' is invariable: ''pacco dono'', plural ''pacchi dono''.^(Treccani 2011)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}