Etymologically
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entre

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Pronunciation

  • IPA: /ɑ̃tʁ/[1]

Forms

entre[1]

Etymology

It is inherited from Latin inter (“between, among; during”), a preposition and verbal prefix with the same uses.[2][3][4][5] Rey analyses “inter” as in (“in”) with an element “-ter-” that sets two things against each other, as in “alter” “the other (of two)”, Wiktionary traces it to Proto-Indo-European *h₁enter (“between”).[3][1] “Entre” is a doublet of the learned prefix inter-.[1]

Cognate with Old Occitan entre and Spanish entre, Italian uses “fra” or “tra” instead.[4][6]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first found in the Passion de Clermont (late 10th century) meaning “in the space between” and, in the same text, “among, in the midst of”.[2][3]

Semantic evolution

About 1050 entre was used of any intermediate state, in time or figuratively (entre la vie et la mort), and of reciprocity within a group.[2][3] With a personal pronoun naming a group it appears in 1130–1140 (fui d'entre nos ! “flee from among us!”), the model of entre nous; comparison (choisir entre) dates from the 16th century.[2][3]

As a prefix entre- forms nouns for the space between two things (entracte) or a mutual action (entraide), verbs of reciprocal action (s'entre-tuer) and, a French development, verbs of half-done action such as entrouvrir and entrevoir.[3][4]

Timeline

  • Late 10th century – Entre in the Passion de Clermont.[2]
  • c. 1050 – Intermediate state, and reciprocity, in the Vie de saint Alexis.[2]
  • 1130–1140 – D'entre nos in Wace.[2]
  • 1283 – A further sense in Beaumanoir.[7]
  • 16th century – Expressing comparison.[3]

Meanings

Preposition

  1. Between, in space: entre la France et l'Espagne, entre ses mains.[8][7]
  2. Between, in time: entre dix et onze heures.[8][7]
  3. Among: entre autres, l'un d'entre eux.[3][1]
  4. Between, of a relation or exchange: entre amis, entre nous, between ourselves.[3][7]
  5. Between, of a comparison or choice: hésiter entre deux solutions.[3]
  6. Of an intermediate state: entre la vie et la mort.[3]

Word family

  • entracte
  • entraide
  • entre-temps
  • entrouvrir
  • entrevoir
  • entrebâiller
  • inter-
  • Latin inter

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g 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 c Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
  5. ^ Wartburg, Walther von, et al. (1922–2002), Französisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch, 25 vols., Bonn / Leipzig / Basel: Klopp / Teubner / Zbinden, p. 4, 747b
  6. ^ Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
  7. ^ a b c d 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