entretien

Forms

entretien m (plural entretiens)^[1]

Etymology

It is a deverbal noun from French entretenir.^[2][3][4][1] The verb is formed from entre and tenir.^[1]

Earliest recorded meaning

Its first record, about 1450 in the Mystère du Viel Testament, is an isolated use meaning “person one converses with”.^[2][5]

Semantic evolution

The modern sense “exchange of words, conversation” is found from 1481 (Coquillart), and by metonymy the word came to mean the subject of a conversation, a work written as a dialogue (17th century) and a conference between specialists (20th century).^[2][5] Following a sense the verb took in the 16th century, entretien also came to mean the action of keeping something in good repair (1578) and, by metonymy, the care and repairs this requires, then what a person needs to live (1611, Cotgrave).^[2][5]

Timeline

• c. 1450 – Used for “person one converses with”.^[2][5]
• 1481 – Coquillart uses it for “exchange of words”.^[2][6]
• 1578 – Pontus de Tyard uses it for “keeping in repair”.^[2]
• 1611 – Cotgrave records “what is needed for a person's upkeep”.^[2]

Meanings

Noun

1. Upkeep, maintenance: the care, repairs and expense needed to keep something in good condition;^[7][2] produits d'entretien, household cleaning products.^[7][2]
2. The staff and means that handle maintenance in a firm;^[7][1] agent d'entretien, a cleaner or maintenance worker.^[7][1]
3. (dated) What is needed for a person's or a group's living; support.^[7][8]
4. Keeping something in its present state: gymnastique d'entretien.^[7]
5. A conversation, a talk with one or more people;^[7][1] entretien d'embauche, a job interview.^[7][1]

Related words

• entretenir
• tenir

References

1. ^ a b c d e f g h 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. ^ Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
4. ^ Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
5. ^ a b c d Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
6. ^ Quemada, Bernard, ed. (1959–2006), Datations et documents lexicographiques (Base historique du vocabulaire français, BHVF), Paris: Klincksieck / CNRS / Champion; ATILF
7. ^ 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
8. ^ Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette