saluto Italian · revision 39043

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=before 1292, Bono Giamboni|origins=la salūs}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /saˈlu.to/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''saluto''' ''m'' (plural saluti)^(Wiktionary)

+ Old forms include [[m|roa-oit|saludo]] and [[m|roa-oit|salùo]].^(GDLI)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[der|it|salutare|t=to greet]], a noun formed from the verb without a suffix.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(DEI|3325)^(Devoto 1968) The verb is [[la|salūtō|t=to greet; to pay a visit]], from [[m|la|salūs|t=health; safety; greeting]], which also gave [[salute]].^(Nocentini 2010)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ The same formation is found in [[fur|salût]], [[fr|salut]], [[oc|salut]] and [[ca|salut]], and in [[ro|sărut]], which means “kiss”.^(REW 1935)^(Körting 1907) In Romanian the verb [[m|ro|săruta]] has also come to mean “to kiss”, as Old Spanish [[m|es|saludar]] sometimes did.^(REW 1935)^(Nocentini 2010)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ DELI's first record is Bono Giamboni's ''Libro de' vizî e delle virtudi'', before 1292, for the act of greeting, the words or gestures that show someone respect, friendship or affection.^(DELI 1999) Giamboni's translation of Latini's ''Tesoro'' tells of a man whose greeting the angel would not return.^(GDLI)^(Tommaseo–Bellini 1861)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In the poetry of the ''dolce stil novo'' the lady's greeting is a central theme: Guinizelli's ''lo vostro bel saluto e ’l gentil sguardo'' “your fair greeting and your gentle look” kills the lover, and in the ''Vita nuova'' Dante says the aim of his love was once the greeting of Beatrice.^(GDLI) The plural ''saluti'' in polite formulas and at the end of letters is dated from Gasparo Gozzi, before 1786, and the sense “short formal speech at a public meeting” from 1922.^(DELI 1999)

+

+ Tommaseo records an ironic use for unwelcome news or a blow.^(Tommaseo–Bellini 1861) The military salute and the ''saluto romano'', the raised arm that was compulsory under Fascism, are modern ritual forms.^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Treccani 2011)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * Before 1292 – Bono Giamboni uses the word.^(DELI 1999)

+ * About 1290–1293 – Dante writes of Beatrice's greeting in the ''Vita nuova''.^(GDLI)

+ * Before 1786 – Gasparo Gozzi uses ''saluti'' as a letter formula.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1922 – The sense “short formal speech” is recorded.^(DELI 1999)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A [[m|en|greeting]]: a word or gesture, such as a handshake, a wave or a kiss, made to someone on meeting or parting, to show friendship, respect or affection: ''Mi ha fatto un cenno di saluto dall'altra parte della piazza.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+ # ''(chiefly plural)'' [[m|en|regards]]: a polite formula, especially at the end of a letter or card: ''cordiali saluti'', ''distinti saluti''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+ # A mark of homage or respect, especially at an official ceremony, and a short formal speech of welcome: ''il saluto del sindaco agli ospiti''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+ # ''(military)'' A [[m|en|salute]], made in the way regulations prescribe.^(Treccani 2011)^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[salutino]]

+ * [[salutissimo]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[salutare]]

+ * [[salute]]

+ * [[salutazione]]

+ * [[la|salutatio]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ ''Togliere'' or ''levare il saluto a qualcuno'' is to stop greeting someone, to break off relations.^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Treccani 2011) ''Tanti saluti!'' can be used ironically to cut a conversation short or to say that something is lost for good.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010) The GDLI also records two rare old homographs: ''saluto'' “salvation”, formed from Latin ''salūs'', and ''saluto'' “spiritual ascent”, from ''salire''.^(GDLI)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}