Etymologically
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continuer

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Pronunciation

  • IPA: /kɔ̃.ti.nɥe/[1]

Forms

continuer[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Latin continuō (“to join without a break; to go on with”), an early borrowing (1154–1173); the Latin verb is derived from continuus (“continuous”), from contineō (“to hold together”) (see contenir).[2][3][4][5] In Latin it meant “to extend in space, join so as to form an unbroken whole”, “to make follow in time” and “to pursue what has been begun”, and “continuāre magistrātum” was to prolong a magistracy.[2][3]

Cognate with Occitan continuar, Spanish continuar and Italian continuare.[6]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first found in Benoît de Sainte-Maure's Roman de Troie (1154–1173), meaning “to go on with what has been undertaken”.[2][3]

Semantic evolution

Used absolutely it meant “to last” from about 1370 (Jean Le Fèvre).[2][3] The special sense “to keep (someone) in office” (1467) declined after the 18th century.[3] With the idea of a break, it meant taking up a task left unfinished by another, as continuing a story (Furetière, 1690).[2][3] The spatial sense, prolonging a line or a wall, appears in 1611 (Cotgrave).[2] Continuateur was formed in 1579.[3]

Timeline

  • 1154–1173 – Continuer in Benoît de Sainte-Maure.[2]
  • c. 1306 – Continu.[3]
  • c. 1370 – Absolute “to last”.[2]
  • 1467 – “To keep in office”.[2]
  • 1579 – Continuateur.[3]
  • 1611 – “To prolong in space”, in Cotgrave.[2]
  • 1690 – “To carry on (another's work)”, in Furetière.[2]

Meanings

Verb

  1. To go on with, carry on: continuer ses études, continuer sa route.[5]
  2. Continuer à, continuer de + infinitive: to keep on doing.[5]
  3. (intransitive) To go on, last: la pluie continue, continuez ![5][2]
  4. To extend, prolong in space: continuer une ligne.[2]
  5. To take up and pursue another's work.[2][3]

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 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
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j 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 c d Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
  6. ^ Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette