dont

Pronunciation

• IPA: /dɔ̃/^[1]
• IPA: /dɔ̃.t‿/^[1]

Forms

dont m or f^[1]

Etymology

It is inherited from Old French dunt, inherited from Vulgar Latin dē unde (“from where”), a strengthening of Latin unde (“whence, from where”) with the preposition dē (“from”).^{[2][3][4][1][5]} Already in classical Latin “unde” could serve as a relative pronoun, equivalent to “from, out of, about which”, and this use spread in Late Latin, preparing the role of “dont” in French.^[4][2] Old French also used “dont” as an interrogative, “whence?” (“Sire niés, dont venez ?”, about 1119).^[4] The simple “unde” gave Old French ont and survives in many dialects, especially in the south.^[6][7]

Rey explains “unde” as originally “*cunde”, one of the Latin relatives and interrogatives that lost the initial /kʷ/ before /u/.^[2] Cognate with Italian donde (“whence”), Spanish donde (“where”) and Portuguese donde.^[6][8][7]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first found in the Séquence de sainte Eulalie (late 9th century): Il li enortet, dont lei nonque chielt, qued elle fuiet lo nom christiien “he urges her, a thing she does not care about, to flee the Christian name”.^[4][8]

Semantic evolution

Its modern use was not yet fixed in the classical period: dont was almost confused with d'où, even in pronunciation, a use that Malherbe, Vaugelas and the grammarians condemned but that the best 17th-century writers kept, and that modern writers still use with verbs taking de.^[2] It also expressed means, manner or cause where modern French says avec lequel, à cause duquel, par lequel, and could introduce a consequence (“because of which”).^[2] Classical French could repeat it with en inside the relative clause, now considered incorrect, and give it a whole clause as antecedent without ce.^[2]

Timeline

• Late 9th century – Dont in the Séquence de sainte Eulalie.^[4]
• c. 1100 – Dunt in the Chanson de Roland: Le blanc haubert dunt la maille est menue.^[8]
• c. 1119 – Interrogative dont “whence” in Philippe de Thaon.^[4]
• 17th century – Malherbe and Vaugelas condemn dont in the sense “from where”.^[2]

Meanings

Pronoun

1. Of which, of whom, whose, as complement of a noun: une plante dont j'ai oublié le nom.^[9][10]
2. As complement of a verb or adjective construed with de: le détail dont il se souvient, une voiture dont je suis content.^[9][11]
3. From which, out of which, marking origin: la chambre dont je sors, la famille dont il sortait.^[10][12]
4. In which, with which, of manner: la manière dont elle est habillée.^[10]
5. Among whom, among which, including: des touristes dont beaucoup sont étrangers.^[9][1]

Related words

• où
• Latin unde

Usage notes

Dont cannot be the complement of a noun that is itself preceded by a preposition: one says l'homme au sort duquel je m'intéresse, not l'homme dont je m'intéresse au sort.^[9]

References

1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
3. ^ Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
4. ^ a b c d e f 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
5. ^ Wartburg, Walther von, et al. (1922–2002), Französisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch, 25 vols., Bonn / Leipzig / Basel: Klopp / Teubner / Zbinden, p. 14, 32b
6. ^ a b Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
7. ^ a b Meyer-Lübke, Wilhelm (1935), Romanisches etymologisches Wörterbuch, 3rd ed., Heidelberg: Winter
8. ^ a b c Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
9. ^ a b c d Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
10. ^ a b c Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
11. ^ Dictionnaire de français Larousse, larousse.fr/dictionnaires/francais (accessed 2024)
12. ^ Dictionnaire Le Robert en ligne, dictionnaire.lerobert.com (accessed 2024)