eccellente Italian · revision 39368

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1292–1293, Dante (Vita nuova)|origins=la excellō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /et.t͡ʃelˈlɛn.te/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''eccellente''' ''m or f'' by sense (plural eccellenti, superlative eccellentissimo)^(Wiktionary)

+ Old forms include [[roa-oit|escellente]], [[roa-oit|excellente]] and [[roa-oit|ecciellente]].^(TLIO)^(Tommaseo–Bellini 1861)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|la|excellens|t=distinguished, excellent]], the present participle of [[m|la|excellō|t=to rise above, surpass]].^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010)^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Wiktionary)^(OLD 2012) Zingarelli calls it a learned word, and the LEI lists it among the learned forms of the Latin adjective.^(Zingarelli 2010)^(LEI|21, 1267)

+

+ DELI analyses the Latin verb as “to rise beyond everyone”, from [[m|la|ex-|t=out, beyond]] and a verb [[m|la|*cellō|t=to rise]] that is not recorded on its own.^(DELI 1999) Nocentini compares that verb with [[lt|kelti|alt=kélti|t=to lift]] and links it to the root of [[colle]] and [[colmo]]; it also lies behind [[eccelso]] and [[gelso]].^(Nocentini 2010)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The TLIO's first record is in Dante's ''Vita nuova'', about 1292–1293, in the sense “at the top of a scale of value”.^(TLIO)^(DELI 1999) Dante writes of words ''ne le quali io dessi ad intendere de le sue mirabili ed eccellenti operazioni'' (“in which I might make known her marvellous and excellent workings”).^(GDLI|5, 10)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In Old Italian the adjective meant superior to others in some respect, highly skilled in an art, and, as a noun, a person of the highest worth; it was also an honorific attribute.^(TLIO) Dante asks in the ''Paradiso'': ''Vedi se far si dee l'uomo eccellente'' (“See whether a man should make himself excellent”).^(GDLI|5, 10) The related noun ''eccellenza'' is recorded in 1305–1306 and as a title of rulers and high officials before 1348.^(DELI 1999) DELI quotes Migliorini on how freely the title ''Eccellenza'' was granted under Fascism, until a decree of 1945 abolished it, though it stayed in use.^(DELI 1999)

+

+ The literal sense “high, lofty”, used of places, is now obsolete.^(Zingarelli 2010)^(GRADIT 2003) In journalism the adjective describes events involving prominent public figures, as in ''arresti eccellenti''.^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010) Sabatini–Coletti traces this to Francesco Rosi's film ''Cadaveri eccellenti'' (1976).^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * About 1292–1293 – Dante uses ''eccellente'' in the ''Vita nuova''.^(TLIO)^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1305–1306 – ''Eccellenzia'' appears in Giordano da Pisa.^(DELI 1999)

+ * Before 1348 – Giovanni Villani uses ''eccellenza'' as a title.^(DELI 1999)

+ * About 1485 – The verb ''eccellere'' is recorded in Sannazaro.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1945 – A decree abolishes the title ''Eccellenza''.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1976 – Francesco Rosi's film ''Cadaveri eccellenti'' comes out.^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Of a person: [[m|en|excellent]], outstanding, superior to others in skill or merit: ''È un'eccellente pianista.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+ # Of a thing: of the highest quality; of food and drink, delicious: ''Questo formaggio è eccellente.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Treccani 2011)

+ # ''(journalism)'' Involving [[m|en|prominent]] public figures: ''Nell'inchiesta sono finiti diversi nomi eccellenti.''^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+ # ''(archaic)'' An honorific title of illustrious people.^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Gabrielli 2020)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[eccellentemente]]

+ * [[eccellentissimo]]

+ * [[sopreccellente]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[eccellenza]]

+ * [[eccelso]]

+ * [[eccellere]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}