dans

Pronunciation

• IPA: /dɑ̃/^[1]
• IPA: /dɑ̃.z‿/^[1]

Forms

dans^[1] Old French denz (about 1112; used until the 15th century).^[2][3]

Etymology

It is inherited from Old French denz, inherited from Late Latin deintus (“inside, within”), a compound of dē and intus (“from within; inside”).^[2][4][5][6] “Intus” is a derivative of in (whence en), and on its own gave Old French enz, which disappeared about the 16th century.^[5][6]

The word is rare outside Gallo-Romance; compare Old Occitan dins and Catalan dins.^[6][7]

Earliest recorded meaning

Denz is first found about 1112, in the Voyage de saint Brendan, as an adverb of place, “inside”.^[2][5]

Semantic evolution

It was first an adverb meaning “inside”, a use it later gave up to its compound dedans.^[5][6] As a preposition it marked place from about 1170, time (“within”) from the 13th century and a physical or mental state from 1667 (dans une humeur désobligeante, Molière).^[2][5] The word was rare before the middle of the 16th century; it then gradually replaced dedans and en, whose contracted forms with the article (ou, ès) had become awkward.^[2][6]

Timeline

• c. 1112 – Denz as an adverb.^[2]
• c. 1170 – As a preposition of place.^[2]
• 13th century – Of time, in Aucassin et Nicolette.^[2]
• mid-16th century – Dans begins to replace en and dedans.^[2]
• 1667 – Of a state of mind, in Molière.^[2]

Meanings

Preposition

1. in, inside: marks a place enclosing someone or something: dans une boîte, monter dans le train.^[8][1]
2. In, among: marks a group or field: entrer dans une famille, être dans l'enseignement.^[8]
3. In, in the works of: c'est dans Montaigne.^[3][1]
4. In, within: marks a time to come: dans trois jours.^[1][2]
5. During, in: dans sa jeunesse.^[1]
6. In: marks a state: dans la misère.^[2]
7. (familiar) Dans les: about, roughly: dans les cent euros.^[1]

Related words

• dedans
• en
• Latin intus

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 l 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 Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
4. ^ Wartburg, Walther von, et al. (1922–2002), Französisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch, 25 vols., Bonn / Leipzig / Basel: Klopp / Teubner / Zbinden, p. 3, 31a
5. ^ a b c d e Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
6. ^ a b c d e Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
7. ^ Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
8. ^ a b Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert