Where does “pianissimo” come from?
I need to work through this chain carefully, as it appears to have some problematic elements.
The chain shows: Italian pianissimo ← Italian piano ← Latin planus ← Ancient Greek πλάνος, then branches that seem circular or confused (Latin fortis, Ancient Greek πλάνος again, Latin fors, Ancient Greek πλάνος again).
The reliable etymological path is: Italian pianissimo (superlative of piano) ← Italian piano (meaning soft/gentle, from Latin planus meaning flat/level, which developed the sense of smooth/gentle).
However, the chain as presented contains duplicates and unclear connections that don't support a clear narrative. The most defensible reading follows the first sequence: Italian pianissimo from Italian piano from Latin planus from Ancient Greek πλάνος.
Given the instruction to "state only what the chain supports" and the unclear/circular nature of the
pianissimo (English): To be played very softly; A dynamic sign...
Definitions
- To be played very softly; A dynamic sign...
Ancestry of “pianissimo”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Italian | pianissimo | superlative degree of piano; pianissimo |
| 2 | Italian | piano | plane; flat, level; plain |
| 3 | Italian | -ano | Used with a stem to form the third-person plural... |
| 4 | Latin | -ant | third-person plural present active indicative of... |
| 5 | Proto-Italic | -āō | Forms primarily denominative verbs |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | -eh₂yéti | Creates iterative/ frequentative/ intensive... |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | -yéti | Creates intransitive, often deponent,... |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | yé- | — |
| 9 | Chichewa | iye | he, she |