entente

Forms

entente f (plural ententes)^[1]

Etymology

It is inherited from Vulgar Latin *intendita, the feminine past participle used as a noun, standing for intenta, from intendō (“to stretch, direct one's attention”), the source of entendre.^[2][3][4] The TLFi notes the participle intenditus in Fronto.^[2] Bloch and Wartburg treat it as a derivative of the verb formed after the participle, which had disappeared before the first texts.^[5] Le Grand Robert and the Petit Robert derive it directly from the verb in the senses “to understand” and, reflexive, “to agree”.^[6][7]

Cognate with Old Occitan ententa.^[8]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first found in Philippe de Thaon's Bestiaire (1121–1134), meaning “attention, concern”.^[2][3]

Semantic evolution

The early senses “attention” and “intention, aim” lasted into the 17th century.^[3][5] About 1170 it meant “understanding, intelligence” (Marie de France), a sense now dated, and at the end of the 13th century “interpretation, meaning”, which survives only in à double entente (1636).^[2][3] As a term of art it meant skill in arranging the parts of a composition.^[8]

In 1831 Balzac uses it for “agreement, good understanding”, and in politics it came to mean an accord between states.^[2][3] The phrase entente cordiale dates from the address of the Chamber of Deputies of 1840–1841; later came the Triple Entente of Russia, France and Britain (1907).^[8][3] English took entente “an understanding” in 1854 and entente cordiale in 1844.^[9]

Timeline

• 1121–1134 – Philippe de Thaon uses it for “attention”.^[2]
• c. 1170 – Marie de France uses it for “understanding”.^[2]
• late 13th century – The sense “meaning, interpretation” appears.^[2][3]
• 1636 – À double entente is recorded.^[3]
• 1831 – Balzac uses it for “good understanding, agreement”.^[2][3]
• 1840–1841 – Entente cordiale appears in the address of the Chamber of Deputies.^[8]
• 1854 – English borrows entente.^[9]
• 1907 – The Triple Entente is formed.^[3]

Meanings

Noun

1. (dated) Thorough understanding of something.^[7][4]
2. À double entente: ambiguous, open to two interpretations.^[7][2]
3. Agreement, good understanding between people: une entente entre voisins.^[7][1]
4. An accord or alliance between states or companies: Entente cordiale.^[3][8]

Related words

• entendre
• mésentente
• malentendu
• Latin intendō

References

1. ^ a b c Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j 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 c d e f g h i j k Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
4. ^ a b Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
5. ^ a b Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
6. ^ Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
7. ^ a b c d Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
8. ^ a b c d e Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
9. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com