épancher

Forms

épancher^[1] Old French espancier (about 1200) and espainchier (1312).^[2][3]

Etymology

It is inherited from Old French espancier, inherited from Vulgar Latin *expandicō, an extended form of expandō (“to spread out”).^{[2][4][5][6][1]} It is thus a by-form of épandre, as pencher is of pendre, through a suffixed Latin verb.^[7][2]

The word is found only in Gallo-Romance: Old Occitan espanchar, and traces in the dialects.^[6]

Earliest recorded meaning

About 1200 Beuve de Hantone uses espancier for spilling out the brain, in the general sense “to spread, scatter”.^[2][5]

Semantic evolution

The verb was rare before the 17th century.^[8] In 1312 it meant to spread out rows of mown hay.^[3] Racine gave it the sense “to pour out (a liquid) abundantly” in 1669, which now survives only in poetry or figuratively, of pouring out favours.^[5][2]

The same year Racine used it of feelings, “to express, confide”, mostly in épancher son cœur and the reflexive s'épancher (1668).^[5][2] The concrete reflexive “to flow, spill over” became rare, except in medicine, where it is said of a body fluid spreading into a cavity (1832).^[5][2]

Timeline

• c. 1200 – Espancier “to spread, scatter” in Beuve de Hantone.^[2]
• 1312 – Espainchier “to spread out” rows of hay.^[3]
• 1606 – The derivative épanchement appears.^[6][5]
• 1669 – Racine uses it for pouring a liquid abundantly and for confiding one's feelings.^[2][5]
• 1832 – First medical use of the reflexive, of a fluid spreading in the body.^[2]

Meanings

Verb

1. (archaic or poetic) To pour out, let flow: La source épanche une eau claire.^[9][7][1]
2. (figurative, literary) To give out generously.^[9][3]
3. To confide freely, pour out one's feelings: épancher sa douleur, épancher son cœur.^[9][3][5]
4. S'épancher: to open one's heart, confide in someone: Elle s'est épanchée auprès de sa sœur.^[5][1]
5. S'épancher (medicine): of blood or another fluid, to spread into a cavity or tissue.^[2][7]

Word family

• épanchement

Related words

• épandre
• épanchoir
• Latin expandō

References

1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Trésor de la langue française informatisé (2004), ATILF – CNRS & Université de Lorraine, atilf.fr/tlfi; electronic version of Imbs, Paul; Quemada, Bernard, eds. (1971–1994), Trésor de la langue française, Paris: CNRS / Gallimard
3. ^ a b c d e Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
4. ^ Wartburg, Walther von, et al. (1922–2002), Französisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch, 25 vols., Bonn / Leipzig / Basel: Klopp / Teubner / Zbinden, p. 3, 303a
5. ^ a b c d e f g h i Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
6. ^ a b c Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
7. ^ a b c Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
8. ^ Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
9. ^ a b c Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert