détourner

Forms

détourner^[1] Old French desturner, destorner, destourner (12th century); the spelling détourner is recorded by Monet in 1636.^[2][3][4]

Etymology

It is formed from French dé- + tourner.^{[2][5][6][1][7]} Rey notes that the verb, though still felt as related to its base, has become fairly independent of it.^[5]

Earliest recorded meaning

It first appears as desturner in the Chanson de Roland (about 1100), meaning to turn someone aside from something or hold him back: Ferir l'en volt, se n'en fust desturnet “he would have struck him, had he not been held back”.^[2][4][5]

Semantic evolution

The idea of “turning aside from the way taken” runs through all its uses.^[5] From turning a person off his path came détourner un coup “to ward off a blow” (about 1190) and, in the 14th century, changing the course of a river or road, the sense from which détourner un avion “to hijack a plane” arose about 1970.^[5] Figuratively it meant to dissuade someone from a plan by good advice (about 1160) and, more often, to lead him astray (1538, détourner qqn de son devoir).^[5][2]

The idea of changing the course of things gave détourner le sens of a word or text (about 1550) and détourner une conversation (1671).^[5] With a part of the body as object it means to turn away, chiefly in détourner la tête and détourner les yeux (1538).^[5] A sense of guilt enters détourner les soupçons, recorded in 1835, and the legal sense “to misappropriate funds or papers” (1383), as well as détourner un mineur “to abduct a minor” (1864).^[5][2] The old slang sense “to steal” (1821) probably comes from turning aside attention.^[5] The reflexive se détourner “to change direction” dates from about 1290.^[5]

Timeline

• c. 1100 – Desturner appears in the Chanson de Roland.^[2][5]
• c. 1160 – The Roman d'Eneas uses it for dissuading someone.^[2]
• c. 1165 – Benoît de Sainte-Maure uses it for setting something aside.^[2]
• c. 1190 – Détourner un coup “to ward off a blow” appears.^[5]
• c. 1290 – The reflexive “to change direction” is found.^[5]
• 1383 – It means to misappropriate for one's own profit.^[2][5]
• 1538 – Robert Estienne has it with a part of the body as object.^[5][3]
• 1636 – Monet records the spelling détourner.^[3]
• 1671 – Détourner une conversation is recorded.^[5]
• 1821 – Slang uses it for “to steal”.^[5]
• 1864 – Détourner un mineur appears.^[5]
• c. 1970 – It is used for hijacking a plane.^[5]

Meanings

Verb

1. To divert, change the course or route of something: on a détourné la rivière pour construire le barrage, also to hijack (a plane).^[8][1][2]
2. To turn (attention, a conversation, suspicion) elsewhere, to distract: détourner les soupçons; to twist the meaning of a text.^[8][1][5]
3. To turn (someone) away from a path or purpose, to dissuade or lead astray: détourner qqn de son devoir.^[8][5][2]
4. To turn (one's head, eyes) away, to avert: détourner la tête.^[1][5]
5. To embezzle or misappropriate (funds, papers).^[1][5]
6. (law) Détourner un mineur: to abduct a minor.^[5]
7. (reflexive) Se détourner: to turn aside, turn away.^[1][5]

Word family

• détournement
• détour
• détourné

Related words

• tourner

References

1. ^ a b c d e f g h 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. ^ a b c Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
4. ^ a b Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
6. ^ Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
7. ^ Wartburg, Walther von, et al. (1922–2002), Französisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch, 25 vols., Bonn / Leipzig / Basel: Klopp / Teubner / Zbinden, p. 13/2, 67b
8. ^ a b c Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert