exaucer

Forms

exaucer^[1] Old French heshalcier (1174–1176); Middle French exaulcer (1543); exaucer from the mid-16th century.^[2][3][4]

Etymology

It is a variant spelling, from French exhausser (“to raise”), which separated from it in sense and spelling in the 16th century.^[2][3][5] That verb is formed in Old French from hausser with the prefix es-, later remodelled after Latin exaltō (“to raise, extol”);^[2][1][6] The base verb goes back to Vulgar Latin *altiō, from altus (“high”).^[1]

The sense “to grant a prayer” may come from a figurative use of the older verb, “to raise someone in dignity, to satisfy his wishes”, or from the influence of Latin exaudiō (“to hear, to heed a prayer”),^[2][3][4] which the French versions of the Bible often rendered with this verb.^[5] Littré explained it as raising a person so that his prayer is heard on high.^[7]

Earliest recorded meaning

In the sense “to hear (a request) favourably” it is first found as heshalcier in 1174–1176.^[2][3] The spelling exaulcer is recorded in 1543,^[4][8] and exaucer in Clément Marot's version of Psalm 3 in the mid-16th century.^[2][5]

Semantic evolution

The verb was used first of God or a higher power who hears a prayer, and later of a human being.^[3][5] Racine (1677) used it for the granting of a wish or request itself.^[5] The derivative exaucement (16th century, exaulcement) is literary and rare, as is inexaucé (1832, Balzac).^[3]

Timeline

• 1174–1176 – Heshalcier is used for “to hear a request favourably”.^[2][3]
• 1543 – The spelling exaulcer is recorded.^[4]
• mid-16th century – Marot writes exaucer.^[2]
• 1677 – Racine uses it of a wish being granted.^[5]
• 1832 – Balzac uses inexaucé.^[3]

Meanings

Verb

1. Of God or a higher power, to grant someone what he asks: le ciel a exaucé la vieille femme.^[8][2][1]
2. To grant or fulfil a wish, prayer or request: exaucer le souhait d’un enfant.^[8][5]

Word family

• exaucement
• inexaucé

Related words

• exhausser
• hausser
• Latin exaudiō

References

1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i 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 Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
4. ^ a b c d Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
5. ^ a b c d e f g Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
6. ^ Wartburg, Walther von, et al. (1922–2002), Französisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch, 25 vols., Bonn / Leipzig / Basel: Klopp / Teubner / Zbinden, p. 3, 257a
7. ^ Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
8. ^ a b c Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert