appunto Italian · revision 39130

+ {{homograph|1|note}}

+

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=1779, Bandi leopoldini|origins=la pungō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /apˈpun.to/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''appunto''' ''m'' (plural appunti)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The noun meaning “note” is formed from the verb [[appuntare]] “to note down”.^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010)^(GRADIT 2003)^(Wiktionary) That verb is made from [[punto]] “point, dot” with the prefix [[a-]], and was originally “to mark with a dot”.^(DELI 1999)^(GRADIT 2003)^(Wiktionary) The sense “reproach” comes from the old use of [[puntare]] and of this verb for putting a dot beside the name of someone who had committed a fault, as T. Bolelli showed in 1941.^(DELI 1999) Nocentini explains it by the old practice of noting down those absent without leave.^(Nocentini 2010)

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+ The word for “point” comes from [[la|punctum|t=a prick, point]], from [[m|la|pungō|t=to prick]].^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ DELI's first record is in the ''Bandi leopoldini'' of 1779, for a short written note.^(DELI 1999)^(GRADIT 2003)^(Nocentini 2010) The verb ''appuntare'' “to note down” is older, from a statute of the Florentine cloth merchants of 1332–1337.^(DELI 1999)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The sense “note of blame, reproach” is recorded in Tommaseo's dictionary in 1865.^(DELI 1999) Manzoni uses the plural for notes taken by a lawyer for a defence, and Collodi for jottings taken with a pencil.^(GDLI|1, 595) Commerce used ''appunto'' for an account and, in banking, for a bill;^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)^(GRADIT 2003) Sabatini–Coletti mark this as dated.^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)^(GRADIT 2003) Computing has given the plural ''appunti'' the sense “clipboard”.^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1332–1337 – The verb ''appuntare'' “to note down” appears in a Florentine statute.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1779 – ''Appunto'' “note” is recorded in the ''Bandi leopoldini''.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1865 – Tommaseo records the sense “reproach”.^(DELI 1999)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A [[m|en|note]], a brief written record made to help the memory: ''Durante la riunione ho preso qualche appunto sul quaderno.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+ # (usually plural) Notes of a lesson or lecture: ''Mi presti gli appunti di storia?''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)

+ # ''(figurative)'' A [[m|en|criticism]] or mild [[m|en|reproach]]: ''muovere un appunto a qualcuno''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+ # ''(computing, plural)'' The [[m|en|clipboard]], the memory area holding copied or cut data.^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(dated, commerce)'' An account, or in banking a bill.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[appuntino]]

+

+ {{homograph|2|exactly}}

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+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=compound|attested=c. 1274, Brunetto Latini|origins=la punctum}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /apˈpun.to/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''appunto'''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The adverb meaning “exactly” is the phrase [[a punto]] “at the point”, written as one word with the doubled consonant of the pronunciation: [[af|it|a|punto]].^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010)^(GRADIT 2003)^(Treccani 2011)^(Wiktionary) DEI and Zingarelli compare [[la|ad]] [[m|la|punctum]] “to the point”.^(DEI|259)^(Zingarelli 2010) The two-word spelling survives as a less common or literary variant.^(Wiktionary)^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Treccani 2011)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The TLIO's first record is Brunetto Latini's ''Tesoretto'', before 1274, in the sense “precisely, exactly”.^(TLIO) DELI dates the adverb to the ''Novellino'', at the end of the 13th century, and Zingarelli to 1266.^(DELI 1999)^(Zingarelli 2010) In the ''Novellino'' a man asks a goldsmith for two rings made just like his own.^(GDLI|1, 595)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Old Italian used the adverb also for “fittingly”, “in good order”, “zealously” and “in a composed manner”.^(TLIO) Dante writes in the ''Vita Nuova'' that nine years had ''appunto'' passed since his first sight of Beatrice.^(GDLI|1, 595) Tommaseo describes it as marking that one thing corresponds exactly to another, as if they met at the same point.^(Tommaseo–Bellini 1861)

+

+ Modern Italian uses ''appunto'' to focus on a word of the sentence, as an emphatic “exactly!” in answers, and as a connective meaning “indeed, as expected”.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026) The diminutive [[appuntino]] “with great care” is recorded before 1492 in Lorenzo de' Medici.^(DELI 1999)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1266 – Zingarelli's date for the adverb.^(Zingarelli 2010)

+ * Before 1274 – Brunetto Latini uses ''a punto'' “exactly”.^(TLIO)

+ * Late 13th century – The ''Novellino'' has ''appunto''.^(DELI 1999)

+ * Before 1492 – Lorenzo de' Medici has ''appuntino'' “with great care”.^(DELI 1999)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adverb===

+ # [[m|en|exactly]], [[m|en|precisely]], just, focusing on the word that follows: ''Stavo appunto pensando a te.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+ # In answers, an emphatic “exactly!”, “just so!”: ''«Vuoi dire che non lo sapeva nessuno?» «Appunto!»''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+ # As a connective, indeed, as was to be expected: ''Volevano vincere, e appunto hanno vinto.''^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[appuntino]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[punto]]

+ * [[appuntare]]

+ * [[appuntamento]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ ''Per l'appunto'' and ''giust'appunto'' are reinforced forms of the adverb.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010) ''Prendere appunti'' is “to take notes”, and ''fare un appunto a qualcuno'' “to criticize someone”.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}