combien

Pronunciation

• IPA: /kɔ̃.bjɛ̃/^[1]

Forms

combien^[1] Cumben (before 1120), cumbien (1130–1160).^[2][3]

Etymology

It is formed from Old French com (“how, as”) (see comme) and bien.^[2][3][4][5] “Com” continues Latin quōmodo (“how”).^[6]

Littré compares Walloon kiben.^[5]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first found as cumben in the Voyage de Charlemagne (before 1120), asking a quantity: Entre or fin e argent gardet cumben i ad “he looks at how much fine gold and silver there is”.^[2]

Semantic evolution

In Old French it already asked about quantity, absolutely or before a noun, and especially about time (about 1155, Wace), later made explicit by combien de temps, and about money (about 1190, por combien), still current in c'est combien ?.^[2][3] From the 12th century it is used before a verb, and, from the 16th before an adjective or adverb with an intensive value, especially in exclamations (Rabelais, 1534).^[3][2]

The conjunction combien que “although” (about 1175) lasted until the 17th century, Richelet called it obsolete in 1680.^[2][3] As a noun, Agrippa d'Aubigné has se mettre sur le combien “to haggle”; spoken French now says le combien for the day of the month and tous les combien ? “how often?”, and has formed combientième (1934).^[3][2]

Timeline

• Before 1120 – Cumben in the Voyage de Charlemagne.^[2]
• c. 1155 – Of time, in Wace.^[2]
• c. 1175 – Combien que “although”, in Chrétien de Troyes.^[2]
• c. 1190 – Por combien “for how much”, in the Roman de Renart.^[2]
• 1534 – Before an adjective, in Rabelais.^[2]
• 1934 – Combientième.^[3]

Meanings

Adverb

1. Combien de: how much, how many: combien de livres a-t-il ?^[7]
2. How much (absolutely): of price, distance or time: combien ça coûte ?, combien êtes-vous ?^[7][3]
3. How, to what extent, in exclamations: combien il a changé !^[7]

Noun

1. (familiar) Le combien: the date, the day of the month, tous les combien ?: how often?^[3]

Related words

• comme
• bien
• comment

References

1. ^ a b Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l 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 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 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, 1543b
7. ^ a b c Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert