moto Italian · revision 39123

+ {{homograph|1|motion}}

+

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1293–1294, Dante|origins=la moveō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /ˈmɔ.to/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''moto''' ''m'' (plural moti)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The noun meaning “motion” is a learned word, [[bor|la|motus|alt=mōtus|t=movement]], a noun formed from the past participle of [[m|la|moveō|t=to move]].^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010)^(GRADIT 2003)^(Wiktionary) Besides “movement”, the Latin noun already meant “emotion, impulse” and “uprising”, the senses Italian took over with it.^(Nocentini 2010)

+

+ Devoto explains the long vowel of the Latin noun from an older participle [[m|la|*movitus]], which stood to the verb as [[m|la|monitus]] stands to [[m|la|moneō]].^(Devoto 1968|289) De Vaan sets out the same history: [[m|la|mōtus]] goes back to [[itc-pro|*mowe-to-]], with the sequence ⟨-owe-⟩ restored after an older sound change, and the verb to a root [[ine-pro|*meuH-|t=to move]].^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ DELI's first record of the general sense “movement” is in Dante, in 1293–1294, and Dante also uses the word in 1304–1308 for the state of a body that is not at rest.^(DELI 1999) GRADIT dates the word to 1294.^(GRADIT 2003)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In the ''Paradiso'' (1313–1319) Dante already uses ''moto'' for an impulse or stirring of the mind.^(DELI 1999) In the 16th century the word gained the senses “gesture, movement of the body” (before 1566, Annibal Caro) and “popular rising, revolt” (before 1527, Machiavelli; 1533, Marin Sanudo), and the music of the 16th century used it for the course of the parts in a composition (1560, Francesco Patrizi).^(DELI 1999) DIFIT has an earlier musical record, in 1521, for the duration of the note values in mensural notation, and the musical term passed into German (1732), French (1703) and English (1740).^(DIFIT)

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+ The sense “walking, physical exercise” is recorded before 1556 in Pietro Aretino, and ''fare del moto'' “to take exercise” in Fanfani's Tuscan vocabulary of 1863.^(DELI 1999) From the Latin [[m|la|mōtor|t=mover]] Italian has [[motore]], first an adjective and a name for the movers of the heavens in Dante (1304–1308) and, from 1869 a machine that turns another energy into mechanical work.^(DELI 1999) DELI, quoting Migliorini, connects that technical sense with the internal-combustion engine patented by Eugenio Barsanti in 1854.^(DELI 1999) The plural ''moti'' still names the risings of the 19th century, such as those of 1821.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1293–1294 – Dante uses ''moto'' for “movement”.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1304–1308 – Dante uses it for the state of a body in motion, and ''motore'' for the mover of the heavens.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1313–1319 – The sense “impulse, emotion” appears in Dante.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1521 – ''Moto'' is used for the duration of notes in mensural notation.^(DIFIT)

+ * Before 1527 – Machiavelli uses it for a popular rising.^(DELI 1999)

+ * Before 1556 – Pietro Aretino uses it for walking as healthy exercise.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1740 – The musical term is recorded in English.^(DIFIT)

+ * 1863 – ''Fare del moto'' is recorded in Fanfani's Tuscan vocabulary.^(DELI 1999)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # [[m|en|motion]], [[m|en|movement]]: the passing of a body from one position to another; in physics, the state of a body that is not at rest: ''Il moto della Terra intorno al Sole dura un anno.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+ # ''(philosophy)'' Change and becoming in general; in Aristotle's thought, the realisation of what exists in potential.^(GRADIT 2003)

+ # The running of a machine or engine, ''in moto'' “running”, ''mettere in moto'' “to start”, also figuratively of people set to work.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Treccani 2011)

+ # Walking or other physical activity taken as healthy [[m|en|exercise]]: ''Dopo cena faccio sempre un po' di moto.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+ # A [[m|en|gesture]] or movement of the body, especially an involuntary one: ''un moto di sorpresa''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+ # A sudden [[m|en|impulse]] or emotion: ''i moti del cuore''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Gabrielli 2020)

+ # ''(often plural)'' A popular rising, [[m|en|revolt]]: ''i moti carbonari''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+ # ''(music)'' The course of a melodic line upwards or downwards: ''moto contrario'', ''moto ascendente''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[motore]]

+ * [[motrice]]

+ * [[motorio]]

+

+ {{homograph|2|motorcycle}}

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+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=clipping|attested=1931, Panzini}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /ˈmɔ.to/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''moto''' ''f'' (invariable)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The noun meaning “motorcycle” is a clipping [[der|it|motocicletta|t=motorcycle]], like [[foto]], [[auto]], [[zoo]] and [[cine]].^(DELI 1999)^(GRADIT 2003)^(Wiktionary) DEI compares [[fr|moto]].^(DEI|2520) Its gender is that of the full word.^(GDLI|11)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The first record is in Panzini's dictionary of new words, in 1931, which notes that the short form is feminine.^(DELI 1999)^(GDLI|11)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Writers of the 20th century such as Pavese and Pratolini use the short form;^(GDLI|11) Panzini also noted that it makes many compounds with the meaning “motor” or “motorcycle”.^(GDLI|11) Such compounds include ''motoraduno'', a rally of motorcyclists.^(Devoto–Oli 2026) A ''moto d'acqua'' is a small motor craft driven by a water jet and steered with handlebars.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Wikizionario)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1931 – Panzini's dictionary records ''moto'' as a short form of ''motocicletta''.^(DELI 1999)^(GRADIT 2003)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # ''(colloquial)'' A [[m|en|motorcycle]]: ''Domenica andiamo al lago in moto.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[motoraduno]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[motocicletta]]

+ * [[muovere]]

+ * [[la|motus]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ ''Il moto'' “motion” is masculine with the plural ''moti'';^(Wiktionary)^(GRADIT 2003) ''la moto'' “motorcycle” is feminine and does not change in the plural.^(Wiktionary)^(GRADIT 2003) Old Italian also had a participle and adjective ''moto'' “moved”, from the participle [[la|motus|alt=mōtus]]:^(DEI|2520) Dante's God “che tutto 'l ciel move, / non moto” (who moves all heaven, himself unmoved), ''Paradiso'' 24.^(GDLI|11)^(Tommaseo–Bellini 1861)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}