Etymologically
Log in

dans

This is the current revision of this entry, as edited by bogdan on 18 October 2026 at 04:14. This address is a permanent link to this version.
Changes in this edit History

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]
  • 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