déclencher

Forms

déclencher^[1]

Etymology

It is formed from French dé- + clenche + -er, that is, "to take the latch off".^[2][3][1] The verb spread from Normandy, where it is first recorded as declanquer in the mid-17th century, before the dictionary of Trévoux registered the standard form in 1732.^[2][4] The derived noun déclenche is found in Norman as desclinque as early as 1382, which would suggest a Norman verb of that time, unless that record belongs with clin instead.^[4]

The base clenche "latch" is from Frankish *klinka, a word of northern French only.^[5][6] Bloch and Wartburg compare German Klinke and Middle Dutch klenke.^[5]

Earliest recorded meaning

The first record is the Norman declanquer in David Ferrand's Muse normande (1625–1655), meaning "to open a door by lifting the latch", and figuratively "to open one's mouth, to talk, to reel off".^[2]

Semantic evolution

The literal sense of opening a door by its latch is the one Trévoux recorded in 1732 and Littré still gave; the GLLF marks it as old.^[2][7][8] In the 19th century the word passed to machinery: to release the part that holds a mechanism back and so set it going (1877 in Littré's Supplement, 1870 according to the GLLF).^[2][8][4]

From there it took the figurative sense "to set off suddenly, to provoke" (an action, a crisis, a war), first found in Clemenceau in 1899.^[2][4] The reflexive se déclencher "to start up, get under way" followed, and the GLLF dates it to about 1916.^[9][8] Under the influence of déclencher, enclencher (1870) took the figurative sense "to start (a process)" in 1964.^[4]

Timeline

• 1625–1655 – The Norman form declanquer appears in David Ferrand's Muse normande.^[2][4]
• 1732 – The dictionary of Trévoux records déclencher "to open a door by the latch".^[2][5]
• 1863 – The noun déclenchement is recorded.^[5][4]
• 1877 – Littré's Supplement gives the sense "to set a mechanism going".^[2][4]
• 1899 – Clemenceau uses it figuratively, "to provoke suddenly".^[2][4]
• c. 1916 – The reflexive se déclencher "to get under way" is recorded.^[9][8]
• 1929 – The noun déclencheur "release, trigger" appears.^[4]

Meanings

Verb

1. (technical) To work a release that frees one of two linked parts of a machine, so that it can move.^[10][8]
2. To set off or trigger a device by means of a mechanism: déclencher une sirène.^[10][11][12]
3. (figurative) To set off suddenly, to provoke or spark (an action, a reaction, a phenomenon): sa remarque a déclenché un fou rire.^[10][11][1]
4. (reflexive, se déclencher) To go off, to start up: l'alarme s'est déclenchée en pleine nuit.^[10][11][1]
5. (dated) To open a door by lifting the latch.^[8][7][2]

Word family

• déclenchement
• déclencheur
• déclenche

Related words

• clenche
• enclencher
• déglinguer

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 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. ^ Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
5. ^ a b c d 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. 16, 333b
7. ^ a b Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
8. ^ a b c d e f Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
9. ^ a b Quemada, Bernard, ed. (1959–2006), Datations et documents lexicographiques (Base historique du vocabulaire français, BHVF), Paris: Klincksieck / CNRS / Champion; ATILF
10. ^ a b c d Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
11. ^ a b c Dictionnaire Le Robert en ligne, dictionnaire.lerobert.com (accessed 2024)
12. ^ Dictionnaire de français Larousse, larousse.fr/dictionnaires/francais (accessed 2024)