fréquenter

Forms

fréquenter^[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Latin frequentō (“to visit often, to be assiduous somewhere”).^[2][3][1][4] The Latin verb also meant to use often, to crowd and to celebrate in great numbers, and is derived from frequēns (“frequent, crowded”), the source of fréquent.^[5][3][6] Cognate with Occitan frequentar, Spanish frequentar and Italian frequentare.^[7]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first found in 1174–1178, in Étienne de Fougères, meaning to go often to a place.^[2][3] Littré quotes an older form, la gent qui la fregundet “the people who frequent it” (the city of Rome), from the 11th-century Saint Alexis.^[7]

Semantic evolution

Around 1190 the verb also meant “to celebrate (the memory of)”, a Latin sense that did not survive.^[6][5][3] About 1380 it took the sense of seeing someone habitually,^[2][3] and about 1530 Marot uses it of reading an author often.^[3][5] Fréquenter les sacrements “to receive the sacraments often” is recorded by Furetière in 1690.^[5]

In 1848 George Sand uses it of a courting couple, a sense common in several French regions and in Belgium, also without an object (elle fréquente).^[3][5][8] In African French, used absolutely, it means to go to school.^[3] The verb has drifted apart in meaning from fréquent and fréquence.^[3]

Timeline

• 1174–1178 – Étienne de Fougères uses it for going often to a place.^[2]
• c. 1190 – Used in the sense “to celebrate”.^[6][5]
• c. 1380 – Jean Le Fèvre uses it for keeping company with someone.^[2]
• c. 1530 – Marot uses it of reading authors.^[3][5]
• 1690 – Furetière records fréquenter les sacrements.^[5]
• 1838 – The derivative fréquentable appears.^[2][3]
• 1848 – George Sand uses it for courting.^[3][5]

Meanings

Verb

1. (transitive) To go often to a place, to frequent it: fréquenter les musées.^[2][9][1]
2. (transitive) To see someone regularly, to keep company with them.^[9][2][1]
3. (regional, dated) To court, to go out with someone, also used without an object.^[9][3][1]
4. (figurative) To read an author often.^[3][5]
5. Fréquenter les sacrements: to receive the sacraments often.^[7][5]
6. Se fréquenter: to see each other regularly.^[7][9]
7. (Africa) Used absolutely, to attend school.^[3]

Word family

• fréquentable

Related words

• fréquence
• fréquent
• fréquentation
• Latin frequēns

Usage notes

The proverb dis-moi qui tu fréquentes et je te dirai qui tu es “tell me who you spend time with and I will tell you who you are” is listed by Wiktionary.^[1]

References

1. ^ a b c d e f g Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h 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 n o 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, 776a
5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
6. ^ a b c Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
7. ^ a b c d Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
8. ^ Quemada, Bernard, ed. (1959–2006), Datations et documents lexicographiques (Base historique du vocabulaire français, BHVF), Paris: Klincksieck / CNRS / Champion; ATILF
9. ^ a b c d Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert