sposo Italian · revision 39264

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=late 12th century, Ritmo di Sant'Alessio|origins=la spondeō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /ˈspɔ.zo/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''sposo''' ''m'' (plural sposi, feminine sposa, diminutive sposino or sposetto)^(Wiktionary)

+ Early forms include [[roa-oit|sponso]], [[roa-oit|isposo]], ''spoxo'', ''spozo'' and ''spuso''.^(TLIO)^(GDLI) The literary form ''isposo'' is now used only after ''per'' or ''in''.^(Zingarelli 2010)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|la|spōnsus|t=betrothed man]], the noun use of the past participle of [[m|la|spondeō|t=to promise solemnly]], with the feminine [[m|la|spōnsa]], the source of [[sposa]].^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010)^(GRADIT 2003)^(Wiktionary) The same word is [[fr|époux]], [[oc|espos]], [[ca|espos]], [[es|esposo]] and [[pt|esposo]].^(Nocentini 2010)^(REW 1935)

+

+ Nocentini compares the Latin verb with [[grc|σπένδω|tr=spéndō|t=to pour a libation]], which shows the original meaning: a promise or pledge was sealed with a solemn libation.^(Nocentini 2010) In Romance the meaning moved from the man promised in marriage toward the newly married husband, while the sense “betrothed” passed to [[fidanzato]], [[fr|fiancé]] and [[es|novio]].^(Nocentini 2010)

+

+ Meyer-Lübke noted that the voiced /z/ of the Tuscan word points to a borrowing from Old Occitan (Bartoli) or from the literary language (Ascoli) rather than a native development.^(REW 1935)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The first record is in the ''Ritmo di Sant'Alessio'', a poem from the Marche of the late 12th century, which speaks of the bridegroom and bride brought together: ''Lu sponsu e la sponsa fóro adunati''.^(TLIO)^(GDLI)^(GRADIT 2003)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In Old Italian the word meant above all the husband at the time of the wedding or just after it, and figuratively Christ or God joined mystically to the Church and to the faithful, Saint Joseph as Mary's husband, Saint Francis wedded to Poverty, and the Pope or a priest joined to the Church.^(TLIO) DELI dates the sense “husband, especially a newly married one” to Bono Giamboni, before 1292.^(DELI 1999) The sense “man promised in marriage” is recorded as ''isposo'' before 1342 and as ''sposo'' in 1612; it survives in ''promesso sposo'', now mostly jocular, and in the plural ''promessi sposi'', an engaged couple.^(DELI 1999)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010) The plural ''sposi'', the bride and groom or a newly married couple, is recorded before 1536.^(DELI 1999)

+

+ The word was borrowed into English as ''sposo'' (1778), and Austrian and southern German ''Gspusi'', a love affair or sweetheart, comes from it.^(DIFIT)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * Late 12th century – First record, in the ''Ritmo di Sant'Alessio''.^(TLIO)^(GRADIT 2003)

+ * Before 1292 – Bono Giamboni uses it for a husband.^(DELI 1999)

+ * Before 1342 – Cavalca uses ''isposo'' for a man promised in marriage.^(DELI 1999)

+ * Before 1536 – The plural ''sposi'' “bride and groom” is recorded.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1778 – English ''sposo'' is recorded.^(DIFIT)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A [[m|en|bridegroom]]: a man on his wedding day: ''Lo sposo aspettava davanti alla chiesa.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+ # ''(in the plural)'' The bride and groom on their wedding day; a married couple, especially newlyweds: ''Viva gli sposi!''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+ # ''(dated or humorous)'' A [[m|en|husband]]: ''È uscita a cena con il suo sposo.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+ # ''(archaic or regional)'' A man promised in marriage, a [[m|en|fiancé]], ''promesso sposo''.^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+ # ''(religion)'' ''Lo sposo della Chiesa'', ''lo sposo celeste'': Jesus Christ.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Treccani 2011)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[sposare]]

+ * [[sposalizio]]

+ * [[sposino]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[sposato]]

+ * [[sposa]]

+ * [[sponsale]]

+ * [[la|spōnsus]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ ''Andare sposo'' means to marry, said of a man;^(Treccani 2011)^(Zingarelli 2010) ''sposi novelli'' are a newly married couple.^(Treccani 2011)^(Zingarelli 2010) The ⟨s⟩ is voiced, /ˈspɔzo/, in Tuscan and standard pronunciation.^(Wiktionary)^(REW 1935)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}