étinceler

Forms

étinceler^[1] Old French estenceler, then estinceler at the end of the 12th century; the spelling étinceler is recorded by Richelet in 1680.^[2][3]

Etymology

It is formed from French étincelle + -er.^[3][4][5][1] Étincelle is from Vulgar Latin *stincilla, a form of Latin scintilla (“spark”) with the consonants transposed; its form with ⟨é-⟩ was the Picard and northeastern one, which spread to Paris.^[3][6] Wiktionary also mentions, as less likely, a Vulgar Latin verb *stincillō, from scintillō (“to sparkle”), which would make it a doublet of scintiller.^[1] Littré derived it directly from the Latin verb.^[7]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first found as estenceler in Wace's Roman de Brut (1155), meaning “to shine”.^[3][5]

Semantic evolution

The literal sense “to throw out sparks” is now rare, and the verb is mostly used for “to shine” of the sun or a star and “to sparkle, gleam” (about 1530), most often of the eyes.^[5][2] Its figurative use for abstract things, which Boileau has in 1674, is rare.^[5][2][8] Bloch and Wartburg note the present plural estancelent in Chrétien de Troyes in the 12th century.^[6]

Timeline

• 1155 – Estenceler “to shine” appears in Wace's Roman de Brut.^[3]
• End of the 12th century – The form estinceler appears.^[2]
• c. 1530 – Clément Marot uses it for “to sparkle, gleam”.^[2]
• 1669 – It is first used of abstract things.^[5][8]
• 1680 – Richelet has the spelling étinceler.^[2]
• 1908 – The derivative étincelage is first recorded, in medicine.^[3]

Meanings

Verb

1. (literary) To give out bright rays of light, to throw out sparks.Les étoiles étincelaient dans le ciel d'hiver.^[8][7][1]
2. To sparkle or glitter when catching the light.^[8][1] La neige étincelle au soleil.^[8][1]
3. (figurative) Of the eyes or a look, to gleam with passion, anger or ardour.^[8][7]
4. Of a work or a style, to be full of brilliant qualities.^[8][7]

Word family

• étincellement
• étincelant
• étincelage

Related words

• étincelle
• scintiller
• Latin scintilla

References

1. ^ a b c d e f g Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
3. ^ a b c d e f 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
4. ^ Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
5. ^ a b c d e Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
6. ^ a b Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
7. ^ a b c d Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
8. ^ a b c d e f g Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert