accompagnement

Forms

accompagnement m (plural accompagnements)^[1]

Etymology

It is formed from French accompagner + -ment.^[2][1][3][4] The verb accompagner continues Old French acompagner (“to associate with”), from compaing (“companion”),^[1] the old nominative of compagnon, which Bloch and Wartburg trace to Vulgar Latin compāniō, formed from cum (“with”) and pānis (“bread”) on the model of a Germanic word.^[5]

Earliest recorded meaning

In 1264 a letter of Thibaut of Champagne uses acompaignement as a term of feudal law, for a pariage, a contract of association in which two lords shared a lordship.^[2][4] Littré quotes it from Beaumanoir in the same century in the sense of a business partnership.^[6]

Semantic evolution

In 1539 Robert Estienne's dictionary records it for the retinue of people who go with a person of rank, and in 1549 for the act of accompanying someone.^[2][7] Used of people this sense has become rare, but it lives on for things that go together, as with a side dish served with meat or fish.^[4][8]

The musical sense, the part that supports the main melody, is recorded by Furetière in 1690 for organ stops played under the upper part, and by the Académie in 1694 for what accompanies singing.^[2][4] In military use it names supporting action, as in tir d'accompagnement.^[8] In recent use it also means the support given to someone, as in accompagnement de fin de vie for the care of the dying and accompagnement scolaire for help with schoolwork.^[8][9]

Timeline

• 1264 – First recorded as a feudal-law term for a contract of association.^[2]
• 1539 – Robert Estienne records it for a retinue.^[2][7]
• 1549 – Estienne records it for the act of accompanying someone.^[2][7]
• 1690 – Furetière gives the musical sense.^[2][4][5]
• 1694 – The Académie defines the accompaniment of singing.^[2]

Meanings

Noun

1. (rare) The act of going along with someone; the people who go with someone, a retinue or escorte.^[8][2]
2. (figurative) What goes with something else or follows from it.^[8][9]
3. (cooking) A side dish, vegetables or other food served with meat or fish: un rôti avec son accompagnement de haricots.^[8][9][1]
4. (music) The accompaniment, the part that supports the main voice or instrument, and the playing of it: Elle chante sans accompagnement.^[8][2]
5. (military) Supporting action: tir d'accompagnement.^[8]
6. Support or help given to a person: accompagnement de fin de vie, accompagnement scolaire.^[8][9]

Related words

• accompagner
• accompagnateur
• compagnon
• compagnie
• copain
• raccompagner

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. ^ Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
4. ^ a b c d e Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
5. ^ a b Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
6. ^ Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
7. ^ a b c Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
8. ^ a b c d e f g h i Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
9. ^ a b c d Dictionnaire de français Larousse, larousse.fr/dictionnaires/francais (accessed 2024)