fâcher

Forms

fâcher^[1] Middle French fachier (1442) and fascher (mid-15th century).^[2][3]

Etymology

It is first recorded in 1442 as inherited from Middle French fachier, probably inherited from Vulgar Latin *fasticō, formed by a change of suffix from Late Latin fastīdiāre (“to be disdainful or disgusted”).^{[2][4][3][5][6]} That verb is a remaking, with a change of conjugation, of fastīdīre (“to feel disgust”), from fastus (“disdain”).^[2][3] It had been borrowed in the 14th century as Middle French fastidier “to disgust, to bore”.^[2][3]

Because the word appears late, Bloch and Wartburg think it was provincial, its first examples coming from Savoy; the Grand Robert and Petit Robert call it a regional word, and the GLLF a word of the West.^[5][6][7][8] The TLFi finds the explanation of the late date given in the FEW unconvincing, since the first records are spread over the whole territory.^[2] Compare Old Occitan fastic (“disgust”) and fastigos (“disdainful”), and archaic Spanish hastiar.^[5] Littré, following Diez, traced it to Old Occitan fastigar (“to disgust”), as mâcher comes from masticō.^[9]

Earliest recorded meaning

Martin Le Franc's Champion des Dames (1442) has fachier in the sense “to disgust, to weary, to tire”.^[2][3]

Semantic evolution

The sense “to cause displeasure, to anger” appears in the mid-15th century in the Mystère du Viel Testament, and the reflexive se fâcher “to get angry” in 1480, in Coquillart.^[2][3] Robert Estienne records the weaker sense “to grieve, to pain” in 1539; it and the sense “to disgust” were still alive in the classical period, as in Molière's ton trépas fâcherait tes amis.^[2][3][7] Se fâcher avec quelqu'un “to fall out” is recorded from 1865.^[3] Des sujets qui fâchent seems to come from a regional use of the verb for “to be very unpleasant to” (1931, in Marseille).^[3][7] The derivatives fâcheux and fâcherie date from the 15th century.^[5]

Timeline

• 1442 – Fachier “to disgust” appears in Martin Le Franc.^[2]
• mid-15th century – Fascher “to anger” in the Mystère du Viel Testament.^[2]
• 1480 – Coquillart uses the reflexive se fâcher.^[2]
• 1538 – Fâcheux is used of a tiresome person.^[5]
• 1539 – Robert Estienne records the sense “to grieve”.^[2][8]
• 1865 – Se fâcher avec quelqu'un “to fall out” is recorded.^[3]
• 1931 – The use behind des sujets qui fâchent is found in Marseille.^[3]

Meanings

Verb

1. (dated) To grieve, to pain.^[7][2]
2. To anger, to annoy, to vex: Sa remarque a fâché son voisin.^[7][1][2]
3. Soit dit sans vous fâcher: no offence meant.^[7][9]
4. Des sujets qui fâchent: touchy subjects, sources of discord.^[7][3]
5. Se fâcher: to get angry: se fâcher tout rouge.^[7][1]
6. Se fâcher avec quelqu'un: to fall out with someone.^[7][3][1]

Word family

• fâché
• fâcheux
• fâcherie

Related words

• fastidieux
• Latin fastīdium

References

1. ^ a b c d e f Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n 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 l m Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
4. ^ Wartburg, Walther von, et al. (1922–2002), Französisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch, 25 vols., Bonn / Leipzig / Basel: Klopp / Teubner / Zbinden, p. 3, 430b
5. ^ a b c d e Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
6. ^ a b Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
7. ^ a b c d e f g h i Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
8. ^ a b Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
9. ^ a b Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette