Etymologically
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enfoncer

Etymology and origin of the French word enfoncer

History Permalink
Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
c. 1150, Charroi de Nîmes
Ultimate origin
Latin (fundus)

Pronunciation

  • IPA: /ɑ̃.fɔ̃.se/[1]

Forms

enfoncer[1] Old French enfonser; the modern spelling with ⟨c⟩ follows fond.[2][3]

Etymology

It is formed with the prefix en- and a verb ending on fons, the older form of fond and fonds.[4][3][2][1][5] The noun continues Latin fundus (“bottom; estate”), through a popular neuter form *fundoris that explains why the Old French noun was invariable.[6] Littré analyses it as the prefix and foncer.[7]

Earliest recorded meaning

The Charroi de Nîmes (about 1150) has it in the sense “to provide with a bottom”.[4]

Semantic evolution

Sarrazin's Roman de Ham (1278) has enfonsé “laden with”, and the Ménagier de Paris (about 1393) yeuls enfoncés “sunken eyes”.[4] The sense “to push in so as to break up” is military at first: Montaigne writes of breaking through the enemy battalion, and La Noue (1587) of cavalry that fail to break in.[4][7] Figurative senses followed: “to defeat, outdo” (Corneille, 1635) and s'enfoncer in a reverie (Madame de Sévigné, before 1696).[8][9] Set phrases include enfoncer le clou “to hammer the point home” and enfoncer une porte ouverte “to labour the obvious”.[2][1]

Timeline

  • c. 1150 – “To provide with a bottom”, Charroi de Nîmes.[4]
  • 1278 – Enfonsé “laden with”.[4][3]
  • c. 1393 – Yeuls enfoncés, Ménagier de Paris.[4]
  • 1580 – Montaigne.[8]
  • 1587 – “To break through (the enemy)”, La Noue.[4]
  • 1635 – Corneille.[8]

Meanings

Verb

  1. To drive in, push (something) deep in: enfoncer un pieu en terre, enfoncer un clou, enfoncer son chapeau, to pull it down hard.[2][1]
  2. To break down, break open: enfoncer une porte, enfoncer une porte ouverte, to state the obvious.[2][1]
  3. To break through (enemy lines); (familiar) to defeat, outdo.[2][1]
  4. Enfoncer le clou: to drive the point home.[2][1]
  5. (intransitive) To sink in: on enfonce dans la neige.[1][2]
  6. S'enfoncer: to sink, go deep into (s'enfoncer dans la forêt); to get deeper into trouble; to immerse oneself.[1][9]

Word family

  • enfoncement
  • enfonçure
  • fond
  • fonds
  • foncer
  • défoncer

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
  3. ^ a b c Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h 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. 3, 870b
  6. ^ Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
  7. ^ a b Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
  8. ^ a b c Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
  9. ^ a b Quemada, Bernard, ed. (1959–2006), Datations et documents lexicographiques (Base historique du vocabulaire français, BHVF), Paris: Klincksieck / CNRS / Champion; ATILF
Cite this entry

“Enfoncer.” Etymologically, 18 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/fr/enfoncer. Accessed 18 Oct. 2026.

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