caresse

Forms

caresse f (plural caresses)^[1] Early forms charesse (1534) and carresse (1538); caresse from 1545.^[2][3]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Italian carezza (“caress, mark of affection”),^{[4][3][5][1][6]} first as charesse (1534) and carresse (1538).^[2][3] The TLFi calls the borrowing probable because most of the first records are in translations from Italian, such as Jacques Colin's version of Castiglione's Courtier (1538) and Le Maçon's version of the Decameron (1545).^[2] The Italian word, found in the phrase ⟨fare carezza⟩ before 1315, is formed from caro (“dear”), from Latin cārus (“dear”); the Medieval Latin caritia (“caress, mark of affection”) is recorded in Italy in 1288.^[2][7][8] The TLFi thinks a back-formation from caresser, proposed by Gamillscheg, less likely.^[2]

Earliest recorded meaning

Rabelais uses charesse in Gargantua (1534) for an outward show of affection by gestures and words; by 1538 it is a show of affection by touch.^[2]

Semantic evolution

Rey describes the word's history as a narrowing.^[4] In the 16th and 17th centuries it covered any show of affection or gratitude, in gestures as well as in words, and also flattery (1616, Hulsius).^[4][2] In the plural it meant marks of goodwill (Corneille, 1647), and figuratively a soft, pleasant touch (Corneille's Psyché, 1671).^[2] Today it suggests above all sensual and erotic touching (from 1606), limited to the hands, while it formerly included kisses; the friendly caress is archaic.^[4] The verb caresser was borrowed a century earlier (1450), from carezzare (“to cherish”).^[4]

Timeline

• 1534 – Charesse in Rabelais's Gargantua.^[2][4]
• 1538 – Carresse in the French Courtisan, of a caress by touch.^[2][9]
• 1545 – The spelling caresse.^[2][3]
• 1606 – Used of sensual caresses.^[4]
• 1616 – Hulsius gives the sense “flattery”.^[2][4]
• 1647 – Corneille uses the plural for marks of goodwill.^[2]
• 1671 – The figurative “soft, pleasant touch”, in Corneille's Psyché.^[2]

Meanings

Noun

1. A caress: a tender, affectionate or sensual touch, with the hand or the lips;^[7][2][1] faire des caresses to someone or to an animal.^[7][2][1]
2. (dated) Any physical show of tenderness, such as an embrace.^[7]
3. (figurative) A soft, pleasant touch, as of the wind or the sun.^[2][9]
4. (figurative) A favour: les caresses de la fortune.^[5]
5. (dated) In the plural, flattery or marks of goodwill.^[2][4]

Related words

• caresser
• cher
• Italian carezza
• Latin cārus

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 l m n o p q r 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 Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
4. ^ a b c d e f g h i Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
5. ^ a b Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
6. ^ Wartburg, Walther von, et al. (1922–2002), Französisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch, 25 vols., Bonn / Leipzig / Basel: Klopp / Teubner / Zbinden, p. 2, 443a
7. ^ a b c d Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
8. ^ Meyer-Lübke, Wilhelm (1935), Romanisches etymologisches Wörterbuch, 3rd ed., Heidelberg: Winter
9. ^ a b Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse