fermata Italian · revision 39042

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=1632–1639, Guido Bentivoglio|origins=la firmus}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /ferˈma.ta/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''fermata''' ''f'' (plural fermate)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[af|it|fermare|-ata|t1=to stop]], a noun of action formed from the verb with the suffix that also makes [[passeggiata]] and [[chiamata]].^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Wiktionary)^(Nocentini 2010) The verb is [[la|firmō|t=to make firm, to secure]], from [[m|la|firmus|t=firm, steady]], which gave [[fermo]].^(Nocentini 2010)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ DELI's first record is Guido Bentivoglio, 1632–1639, for the act of stopping; in his account of the wars in Flanders ships often make a ''fermata'' on the Scheldt below Antwerp.^(DELI 1999)^(GDLI) Nocentini and Devoto–Oli date it before 1644, Zingarelli to 1639.^(Nocentini 2010)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The general sense of a halt or stay on a journey is the oldest, and Tommaseo also records it for the place where people or animals usually stop, for a pause in speaking, reading or singing, and for the rest of troops on the march.^(GDLI)^(Tommaseo–Bellini 1861) The sense “stop of a public vehicle to let passengers on and off” is first recorded in Giuseppe Giusti in 1844, and it soon came to name the place of the stop itself.^(DELI 1999)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026) Devoto–Oli and Zingarelli also record a short work stoppage, a brief strike.^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+

+ In music ''fermata'' is the pause on a note, marked by a sign; the term is dated before 1729.^(DIFIT) It was borrowed as German ''Fermate'' (1755) and English ''fermata'' (1876).^(DIFIT)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1632–1639 – Guido Bentivoglio uses the word for a halt.^(DELI 1999)

+ * Before 1729 – The musical sense is recorded.^(DIFIT)

+ * 1755 – German ''Fermate'' is recorded.^(DIFIT)

+ * 1844 – Giuseppe Giusti uses the word for the stop of a public vehicle.^(DELI 1999)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+ * 1876 – English ''fermata'' is recorded as a musical term.^(Etymonline)^(DIFIT)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A [[m|en|stop]], halt or pause: an interruption of a movement or an activity: ''Abbiamo fatto una fermata di mezz'ora per mangiare.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+ # A stop of a [[m|en|bus]], tram or train to let passengers get on and off: ''Questo treno fa solo tre fermate prima di Roma.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+ # The place where a public vehicle stops, a bus stop or tram stop: ''Ci vediamo alla fermata del tram.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Treccani 2011)

+ # A short work stoppage, a brief [[sciopero|alt=strike]].^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+ # ''(music)'' A [[m|en|fermata]], the pause on a note or rest, also called ''corona''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(cooking)'' A light preliminary cooking of meat or fish to keep it from spoiling.^(GRADIT 2003)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[fermatina]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[fermare]]

+ * [[fermo]]

+ * [[ferma]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ ''Fermata a richiesta'' is a stop made only when a passenger asks for it, ''fermata obbligatoria'' one made in any case.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Zingarelli 2010) In the Italian highway code ''fermata'' is a brief halt, distinct from ''sosta'', parking.^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}