Etymologically
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autrement

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Pronunciation

  • IPA: /o.tʁə.mɑ̃/[1]

Forms

autrement (invariable)[1]

Etymology

It is from French autre + -ment; the Old French form was altrement.[2][3][4][5] Wiktionary traces it through Middle French aultrement to the phrase Medieval Latin alterā mente (“in another mind, in another way”).[1]

It matches Occitan autrament and Italian altramente.[5]

Earliest recorded meaning

The Chanson de Roland (1080) has altrement in the sense “otherwise, if not”: car altrement ne m'amerat il mie “for otherwise he will not love me at all”.[2][5]

Semantic evolution

The sense “differently, in another way” is recorded from the middle of the 12th century.[2] Anglo-Norman texts from 1113–1119 have it for “differently”, “otherwise, else” and “formerly”.[6]

In classical and literary French autrement meant “in other words”, as in Chateaubriand's George Sand, autrement Madame Dudevant;[4][3] autrement dit “in other words” is its modern form.[4][3] It also became an intensifier, “far more, to a much greater degree”, as in bien autrement destructives.[4]

Timeline

  • 1080 – Altrement “otherwise”, in the Chanson de Roland.[2][4]
  • 1113–1119 – Anglo-Norman autrement “differently, otherwise”.[6]
  • mid-12th century – “Differently, in another way”.[2]

Meanings

Adverb

  1. Differently, in another way: il faut procéder autrement, je n'ai pas pu faire autrement que d'y aller, I had no choice but to go.[3][1]
  2. Autrement dit: in other words.[3][4]
  3. Otherwise, or else, if not.[3][1]
  4. (with bien, tout) Far more, to a much greater degree: bien autrement.[4]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
  3. ^ a b c d e f Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
  4. ^ a b c d e f g Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
  5. ^ a b c Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
  6. ^ a b Anglo-Norman Dictionary (AND2), Aberystwyth University, anglo-norman.net (2nd ed., 2005–)