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débattre

Etymology and origin of the French word débattre

History Permalink
Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
c. 1050, Vie de saint Alexis
Inherited from
Latin battuo
Etymology tree
inherited borrowed derived
Latin battuo
French débattre

Pronunciation

  • IPA: /de.batʁ/[1]

Forms

débattre[1]

Etymology

It is formed from battre with the intensive prefix dé-,[2][3][4][5][6] the verb being inherited from Latin battuō (“to beat”).[5] Littré gives the original sense as “to beat this way and that”, kept only in the reflexive.[7]

Cognate with Old Occitan debatre, Spanish debatir, Portuguese debater and Italian dibattere.[7] English debate is borrowed from the French verb.[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The Vie de saint Alexis (about 1050) uses it in the sense “to beat hard”.[2][3]

Semantic evolution

The sense “to beat hard” lasted a long time, still in 1627 of churning milk.[2][3] The verb parted from battre with the figurative “to argue vigorously”: de neant debatre in Chrétien de Troyes (1172–1175), and transitively in Beaumanoir (1283), who uses it for contesting a will or a jurisdiction.[2][3][7] The reflexive se débattre (Chrétien, about 1175) is closer to battre: first “to torment oneself”, then “to struggle to get free”.[2][3]

The noun débat (13th century) has only the sense “discussion”, and in parliamentary language (1627) it corresponds to English debate.[3] In Canada le cœur me débat “my heart is pounding” keeps the old sense.[8]

Timeline

  • c. 1050 – “To beat hard”, in Saint Alexis.[2]
  • 1172–1175 – Debatre de in Chrétien de Troyes.[2]
  • c. 1175 – Se debatre.[2]
  • 1283 – “To discuss”, in Beaumanoir.[2]
  • 13th century – Débat.[3]
  • 1627 – Débat in parliamentary use.[3]

Meanings

Verb

  1. To discuss, debate: débattre une question, débattre de, sur.[8][1]
  2. To negotiate: prix à débattre.[1][9]
  3. (reflexive) Se débattre: to struggle: se débattre contre la misère.[1][10]
  4. (Canada, intransitive) To beat hard: le cœur me débat.[8]

Word family

  • débat

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 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 Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
  6. ^ Wartburg, Walther von, et al. (1922–2002), Französisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch, 25 vols., Bonn / Leipzig / Basel: Klopp / Teubner / Zbinden, p. 24, 16b
  7. ^ a b c Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
  8. ^ a b c Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
  9. ^ Dictionnaire Le Robert en ligne, dictionnaire.lerobert.com (accessed 2024)
  10. ^ Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse

Related etymologies

Cite this entry

“Débattre.” Etymologically, 17 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/fr/d%C3%A9battre. Accessed 17 Oct. 2026.

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