encensoir

Forms

encensoir m (plural encensoirs)^[1]

Etymology

It is formed from French encenser + -oir.^[2][1][3] Encenser is from French encens,^[4] which is from Latin incensum, a Church Latin word from incendō (“to burn”).^[4]

Littré notes that the older language preferred the form encensier, found in the 12th century.^[5]

Earliest recorded meaning

The TLFi's first record is from 1388, in an inventory of the furniture of the dukes of Burgundy, for the censer used in church.^[2][6] Bloch and Wartburg and the GLLF date the word to the 13th century,^[4][7] and Littré quotes encensuers from a 13th-century history of the Crusades.^[5]

Semantic evolution

Besides the liturgical vessel, the word came to stand for church power by metonymy (1691), a use later given up for goupillon.^[6] Mettre la main à l'encensoir (1690) meant to meddle in the functions of the clergy.^[6][7]

Through encenser “to flatter”, it entered phrases about excessive praise: prendre l'encensoir and manier l'encensoir (1680) are still used, while donner de l'encensoir au travers du visage (1675) and casser le nez à coups d'encensoir (1798) are now archaic.^[6][7][5] Coup d'encensoir “gross flattery”, from 1834, is still very much alive.^[6][7]

Timeline

• 13th century – Encensuers appears in a history of the Crusades.^[5][4]
• 1388 – Encensoir is recorded in an inventory of the dukes of Burgundy.^[2]
• 1530 – Palsgrave records it.^[7]
• 1675 – Donner de l'encensoir au travers du visage is recorded.^[6]
• 1680 – Richelet records the figurative sense of flattery.^[2][6]
• 1690 – Furetière records mettre la main à l'encensoir.^[7][6]
• 1798 – The Académie records casser le nez à coups d'encensoir.^[7]
• 1834 – Landais records coup d'encensoir.^[7][6]

Meanings

Noun

1. A censer, a vessel hung on small chains in which encens is burned and swung during services: l'enfant de chœur balançait l'encensoir.^[8][2]
2. (figurative, dated) Church power, the priesthood.^[5][6]
3. Manier l'encensoir, coup d'encensoir: excessive flattery.^[8][6]

Related words

• encens
• encenser
• encensement
• thuriféraire

References

1. ^ a b c Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e 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 Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
5. ^ a b c d e Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
7. ^ a b c d e f g h Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
8. ^ a b Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert