bouleverser

Forms

bouleverser^[1]

Etymology

It is formed from French bouler + verser, a tautological compound: both verbs mean to overturn, the first in its sense of knocking down.^[2][3][4][5] The first part is derived from boule, which goes back to Latin bulla (“bubble”); the second goes back to versō (“to turn”).^[6][7][3] Littré explained the compound as turning like a ball.^[7]

Earliest recorded meaning

Rémi Belleau writes boulverser (les fondemens) in 1557, “to overturn the foundations”; the spelling bouleverser is in Thierry's dictionary of 1564.^[2][3]

Semantic evolution

In the 16th century the verb chiefly meant “to overturn physically, to turn upside down” and “to throw down”, and it was used intransitively, like bouler and débouler, for “to tumble down”.^[3][6]

Modern usage settled in the 17th century, with the physical sense “to throw into great disorder by violent action” and figurative senses: “to change abruptly”, first of a kingdom (1622), and “to throw someone into great distress” (Pascal, 1656–1657), which became common, also in the past participle used as an adjective, bouleversé.^[2][3] The noun bouleversement (1579) followed the same course, and the present participle bouleversant became an adjective, “deeply moving”, in 1863.^[3]

Timeline

• 1557 – Belleau uses boulverser, “to overturn”.^[2][5]
• 1564 – Thierry's dictionary has the spelling bouleverser.^[2]
• 1579 – The noun bouleversement appears.^[3][6]
• 1611 – Cotgrave records the verb.^[2]
• 1622 – It is used figuratively of throwing a kingdom into disorder.^[2][3]
• 1656–1657 – Pascal uses it for troubling consciences.^[2][3]
• 1863 – Bouleversant is used as an adjective, “deeply moving”.^[3]

Meanings

Verb

1. To throw into great disorder by violent action, to turn upside down: les cambrioleurs ont bouleversé l'appartement.^[8][9][10]
2. (figurative) To change abruptly and completely, to upset: cette découverte a bouleversé la médecine.^[8][9][5]
3. To cause a violent and painful emotion in someone, to deeply distress or move: la lettre l'a bouleversée.^[8][9]

Word family

• bouleversant
• bouleversement

Related words

• boule
• bouler
• verser

References

1. ^ a b Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h 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 f g h i j Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
4. ^ Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
5. ^ a b c Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
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 Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
8. ^ a b c Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
9. ^ a b c Dictionnaire Le Robert en ligne, dictionnaire.lerobert.com (accessed 2024)
10. ^ Dictionnaire de français Larousse, larousse.fr/dictionnaires/francais (accessed 2024)