cotanto

Italian

Etymology

From a contraction of Latin locution (ec)cu(m) tantum (literally There [is] so much).

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /koˈtanto/, [koˈt̪än̪.t̪o]
  • Hyphenation: co‧tàn‧to

Adjective

cotanto (feminine singular cotanta, masculine plural cotanti, feminine plural cotante) (dated, literary)

  1. so much
  2. (in the plural) so many
    • 1374, Francesco Petrarca, I Trionfi - “Trionfo d'amore” (Cristoforo Pasqualigo, Grimaldo (1874), p. 31, vv.115-117):
      Da indi in qua cotante carte aspergo ¶ Di pensieri, di lagrime e d'inchiostro; ¶ Tante ne straccio n'apparecchio e vergo.
      Thenceforth so many bookfells have I sprinkled ¶ With thoughts, tears and ink; ¶ Many do I torn [and] graith and inscribe.
  3. such
    • 1321, Dante Alighieri, La divina commedia: Inferno, Le Monnier (1994), Canto V, p. 83 vv. 133-136:
      Quando leggemmo il disïato riso ¶ esser basciato da cotanto amante, ¶ questi, che mai da me non fia diviso, ¶ la bocca mi basciò tutto tremante.
      When as we read of the much-longed-for smile ¶ being by such a noble lover kissed, ¶ this one, who ne'er from me shall be divided ¶ kissed me upon the mouth all palpitating.

Adverb

cotanto (dated, literary)

  1. so much, to such an extent
    • 1321, Dante Alighieri, La divina commedia: Inferno, Le Monnier (1994), Canto XIX, p. 285 vv. 67-69:
      Se di saper ch'i sia ti cal cotanto, ¶ che tu abbi però la ripa corsa, ¶ sappi ch'i fui vestito del gran manto; [...]
      If who I am thou carest so much to know, ¶ that thou on that account hast crossed the bank, ¶ know that I vested was with the great mantle; [...]
  2. for so long, for such a long time
    • 1828, Giacomo Leopardi, A Silvia (Alessandro Donati, Giacomo Leopardi - Canti, Laterza (1917), p. 81 vv. 56-59):
      [Q]uesto è quel mondo? questi ¶ i diletti, l’amor, l’opre, gli eventi, ¶ onde cotanto ragionammo insieme? ¶ questa la sorte dell’umane genti?
      Is this that world? These ¶ the delights, the love, the works, the events, ¶ which for so long we discussed? ¶ is this the fate of mankind?

Pronoun

cotanto (invariable) (archaic, literary)

  1. just this; only this
    • c. 13th century, Novellino (Le ciento novelle antike, Girolamo Benedetti (1525)), D’un savio greco, c’uno re teneva in pregione, come giudicò d’uno destriere:
      Il Greco aviſò il cavallo e diſſe, Meſſere, lo cavalo è di bella guiſa, ma cotanto vi dico, kel cavallo è nutricato a latte d’Aſino.
      The Greek looked at the horse and said: «Sir, the horse is of good aspect, but I'm only saying this, that the horse is raised on donkey milk.»

Anagrams

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