concentrer

Forms

concentrer^[1]

Etymology

It is formed from French con- + centre with the verb ending -er, according to the TLFi.^[2][3][4] The Grand Robert, the Petit Robert and Wiktionary analyse it instead as the prefix and the verb centrer.^[5][6][1] Centre is from Latin centrum, which is from Ancient Greek κέντρον (kéntron, “needle, point”).^[7]

Earliest recorded meaning

Cotgrave's dictionary (1611) records it as “to join in one centre”, the sense “to make converge on a single centre”.^[2][8]

Semantic evolution

Military use for gathering troops at one point is recorded in 1823.^[2][9] In chemistry it meant to strengthen a solution by removing part of its water, first in the participle acide concentré (Académie, 1772).^[2][9] The Académie of 1694 already has the reflexive of humours drawing together to the centre.^[10]

Figuratively it meant “to hold in, repress” a feeling (1753), a use now dated.^[2][9][6] From 1754 it meant “to apply one's mind forcefully to one object”, which prevailed;^[2][9][6] se concentrer is recorded in 1753 for being withdrawn in thought.^[2][9][6] The participle concentré became an adjective (1762) and a noun, as in concentré de tomates.^[9]

Timeline

• 1611 – First record, in Cotgrave.^[2][8]
• 1694 – The Académie records the reflexive.^[10]
• 1732 – The derivative concentration is recorded.^[7][9]
• 1753 – “To repress (a feeling)”, and se concentrer “to be pensive”.^[2]
• 1754 – “To apply one's mind to one object”.^[2][9]
• 1772 – Acide concentré in the Académie's dictionary.^[2]
• 1823 – Military sense, in Las Cases.^[2][9]

Meanings

Verb

1. To bring together at one point what was scattered; to make converge: concentrer des rayons lumineux.^[6][2]
2. To gather troops, powers or resources in one place or hand.^[6][2]
3. (chemistry) To increase the concentration of a solution.^[6][2]
4. To apply one's strength or attention to a single object;^[6][1] se concentrer: to concentrate: Il se concentre sur son examen.^[6][1]
5. (dated) To hold in, repress a feeling: concentrer sa colère.^[6][2]

Word family

• concentration
• concentré
• concentreur

Related words

• centre
• centrer
• concentrique
• Latin centrum

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 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. ^ Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
4. ^ Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
5. ^ Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
7. ^ a b Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
8. ^ a b Cotgrave, Randle (1611), A Dictionarie of the French and English Tongues, London: Adam Islip
9. ^ a b c d e f g h i Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
10. ^ a b Académie française (1694), Le Dictionnaire de l'Académie françoise, 1st ed., Paris: Coignard