combler

Forms

combler^[1] Anglo-Norman also cumbler and coumbler.^[2]

Etymology

It is inherited from Latin cumulō (“to heap up, accumulate, fill by heaping, supply abundantly”),^[3][4][5][6] itself from cumulus (“heap”).^[6][7] Its doublet is the learned borrowing cumuler.^[1][6]

Bloch and Wartburg note that the word survives only in Gallo-Romance, as in Old Occitan comolar and comblar.^[5]

Earliest recorded meaning

Its first record, in Wace's Vie de saint Nicolas (about 1150), means “to fill (a measure, a container) to overflowing”.^[3][6] The Chanson de Guillaume (end of the 11th century), as the GLLF dates it, already has pleine mine comblée, a measure heaped up with bezants.^[7][8]

Semantic evolution

The literal sense “to fill above the brim” has become old-fashioned and survives mainly in the figurative combler la mesure “to go too far”, recorded in Brantôme about 1583–1590.^[3][6]

The idea of giving something in abundance appears early in the past participle comblé “loaded with gifts” (1165–1170, Benoît de Sainte-Maure); the verb in its present construction combler quelqu'un de is recorded only in 1564, in Thierry's dictionary.^[3][6] The sense “to fill a hollow completely”, not to overflowing, is found in the reflexive in the second half of the 13th century and with an object in 1441, when a well was filled in.^[3][6] The figurative “to make up (a gap, a deficit)” is recorded by the Académie in 1835.^[7]

The adjective comble² “full to the brim” (about 1200) gave up its figurative use to comblé.^[6]

Timeline

• c. 1150 – Wace's Vie de saint Nicolas uses it for filling a measure to overflowing.^[3]
• 1165–1170 – Benoît de Sainte-Maure uses comblé “richly endowed”.^[3][6]
• 2nd half of the 13th century – The reflexive is used of a hollow being filled.^[3]
• 1441 – A charter speaks of a well that was comblé “filled in”.^[3][8]
• 1564 – Thierry records combler quelqu'un de “to give someone a profusion of”.^[3][9]
• c. 1583–1590 – Brantôme writes combler la mesure.^[3][6]
• 1835 – The Académie records the sense “to make up for a lack”.^[7]

Meanings

Verb

1. (rare or literary) To fill (a measure or container) to the brim.^[9][3]
2. Combler la mesure: to go too far, to commit the act that ends others' patience.^[9][3]
3. Combler quelqu'un de: to give someone something in abundance, to shower with.^[9][3]
4. To fill in (a hole, a hollow, a ditch).^[9][8]
5. (figurative) To make up for (a gap, a deficit, a lack).^[7][8]
6. To fulfil, satisfy completely (wishes, a person).^[8][1]

Word family

• comble²

Related words

• cumuler
• accumuler
• encombrer
• Latin cumulō

References

1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ Anglo-Norman Dictionary (AND2), Aberystwyth University, anglo-norman.net (2nd ed., 2005–)
3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n 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
4. ^ Wartburg, Walther von, et al. (1922–2002), Französisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch, 25 vols., Bonn / Leipzig / Basel: Klopp / Teubner / Zbinden, p. 2, 1526b
5. ^ a b Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
7. ^ a b c d e Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
8. ^ a b c d e Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
9. ^ a b c d e Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert