Etymologically
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calmer

Etymology and origin of the French word calmer

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Confidence
Probable
Formation
Derivation
First attested
second half of the 15th century, Arnoul Gréban, Mystère de la Passion
Ultimate origin
Ancient Greek (καῦμα)

Pronunciation

  • IPA: /kal.me/[1]

Forms

calmer[1]

Etymology

The TLFi, the Grand Robert and the Petit Robert derive it from the adjective calme with the verbal ending “-er”.[2][3][4] The GLLF and Bloch and Wartburg take it instead from Italian calmare, itself from calma (“calm”), Wiktionary allows both.[5][6][1] “Calme” was borrowed in 1418, through Italian or an Iberian language, from Ancient Greek καῦμα (kaûma, “burning heat”), whence the stillness of the sea in very hot weather.[7][6][1]

Compare Spanish calmar and Italian calmare.[8]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first found in Arnoul Gréban's Mystère de la Passion (second half of the 15th century).[2][5]

Semantic evolution

Littré's 16th-century example has Amadis Jamyn's celui qui calma la tourmente De l'orage civil, already figurative.[8] It was used of storms and the sea, of people and crowds (calmer les esprits), and of pain and feelings (calmer une douleur, sa colère).[8][4][5] Calmer le jeu means to ease tensions.[4] Féraud (1768) noted that in some provinces the people said carmé.[2]

Timeline

  • 1418 – The noun calme.[7]
  • Second half of the 15th century – Gréban's Mystère de la Passion.[2]
  • 16th century – Figurative use, Amadis Jamyn.[8]
  • 1694 – Recorded by the Académie.[2]

Meanings

Verb

  1. To calm, quieten, pacify: calmer un enfant, calmer les esprits, calmer le jeu.[4][9]
  2. To soothe, relieve, ease: calmer une douleur, calmer sa faim, calmer sa colère.[4][5]
  3. Se calmer: to calm down; of the wind or the sea, to die down, abate.[4][1]

References

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

“Calmer.” Etymologically, 18 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/fr/calmer. Accessed 18 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·