Etymologically
Log in

contenir

Etymology and origin of the French word contenir

History Permalink
Confidence
Established
Formation
Borrowing
First attested
c. 1050, Vie de saint Alexis
Borrowed from
Latin contineo
Ultimate origin
Latin (teneō)
Etymology tree
inherited borrowed derived
Latin teneo
English lieutenant
Latin attineo
Latin distineo
Latin contineo
French contenir

Pronunciation

  • IPA: /kɔ̃t.niʁ/[1]

Forms

contenir[1]

Etymology

The TLFi and Rey treat it as borrowed from Latin contineō (“to hold together; to contain; to restrain”), formed from com- and teneō (“to hold”), conjugated like tenir.[2][3][4] Bloch and Wartburg see it as the popular Latin word, which followed the development of that verb.[5] Cognate with Old Occitan contener, Spanish contener and Italian contenere.[6]

Earliest recorded meaning

The Vie de saint Alexis (about 1050) uses the reflexive for “to behave”; the Chanson de Roland has se cuntienent plus quei, “they keep quieter”.[2][6]

Semantic evolution

The reflexive sense “to behave” was medieval only, but survives in contenance.[2][3] Se contenir narrowed to “to restrain oneself” (1080), as in avoir du mal à se contenir (1548).[3][2] The sense “to hold within” is found in the 12th and 13th centuries, of things and of the content of documents (contenut, 1343), and Palsgrave in 1530 has ce pot contient huict choppines for capacity.[2][3] From 1473 it meant “to prevent”, and Robert Estienne in 1538 has contenir les citoyens en leur debvoir, to keep within bounds.[2]

Timeline

  • c. 1050 – Se contenir “to behave”, in the Vie de saint Alexis.[2]
  • 13th century – “To contain”.[2]
  • 1343 – The noun contenut.[2]
  • 1473 – “To prevent”.[2]
  • 1530 – Of capacity, in Palsgrave.[2]
  • 1538 – “To keep in check”, in Estienne.[2]

Meanings

Verb

  1. To contain, have within it: boisson qui contient de l'alcool, une enveloppe contenant des photos.[7][8]
  2. To have a capacity of, hold: la salle peut contenir deux mille spectateurs.[7][9]
  3. To be made up of: ce dictionnaire contient plus de quarante mille articles.[7][6]
  4. To hold back, keep in check: contenir la foule.[1][6]
  5. Se contenir: to restrain oneself.[3][2]

Word family

  • contenant
  • contenu
  • conteneur
  • contenance

References

  1. ^ a b c Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m 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 Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
  4. ^ Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
  5. ^ Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
  6. ^ a b c d Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
  7. ^ a b c Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
  8. ^ Dictionnaire Le Robert en ligne, dictionnaire.lerobert.com (accessed 2024)
  9. ^ Dictionnaire de français Larousse, larousse.fr/dictionnaires/francais (accessed 2024)

Related etymologies

Cite this entry

“Contenir.” Etymologically, 18 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/fr/contenir. Accessed 18 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·