Etymologically
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laver

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Pronunciation

  • IPA: /la.ve/[1]

Forms

laver[1]

Etymology

It is inherited from Latin lavō (“to wash, bathe”).[2][3][4][5][1][6] Latin “lavare” was at first intransitive, with a reflexive sense, while the transitive “to wash” belonged to the related lavere, “lavare” later replaced it, and “lavere” survives through compounds that gave ablution and diluer.[3] The same root is seen in Ancient Greek λούω (loúō, “to wash”) and Old Norse laug (“hot bath”), Wiktionary traces it to Proto-Indo-European *lewh₃- (“to wash”).[3][7][1]

Cognate with Italian lavare, Occitan lavar, Catalan llavar, Spanish lavar and Portuguese lavar.[8][9]

Earliest recorded meaning

The Passion de Clermont (late 10th century) uses it for washing a part of the body with water, and alludes to Pilate washing his hands.[2][3]

Semantic evolution

In the Chanson de Roland the bodies of the dead are lavez de piment et de vin.[7] From the 12th century it meant to cleanse from sin (Psautier d'Oxford), to wash a wound (1170) and se laver (about 1165); s'en laver les mains “to disclaim responsibility” (about 1180) recalls Pontius Pilate, and laver un affront dates from about 1190.[2][3]

Washing objects is recorded in 1485 (laver les tasses), and technical uses followed in painting (1576), chemistry (1663) and wool working (1680).[2] Laver la tête à qqn “to give someone a dressing-down” is in Commynes (about 1500), and laver son linge sale en famille in Voltaire.[2][10] Slang used it for spending (1748) and selling stolen goods (1794).[2]

Timeline

  • late 10th century – To wash, Passion de Clermont.[2]
  • first half of the 12th century – “To purify”, Psautier d'Oxford.[2]
  • c. 1165 – Se laver, Benoît de Sainte-Maure.[2]
  • c. 1180 – To disclaim responsibility.[2]
  • 1485 – Laver les tasses.[2]
  • c. 1500 – Laver la tête de qqn, Commynes.[2]
  • 1794 – Slang “to sell”.[2]

Meanings

Verb

  1. To wash, clean with water: laver la vaisselle, laver du linge, machine à laver.[8][1]
  2. Se laver: to wash (oneself): se laver les mains, s'en laver les mains, to wash one's hands of it.[1][3]
  3. (figurative) To clear, cleanse: laver qqn d'une accusation, laver un affront.[3][2]
  4. Laver son linge sale en famille: not to wash one's dirty linen in public.[10][1]
  5. (art) To apply a wash of colour.[2]

Word family

  • lavage
  • lavable
  • laverie
  • lavoir
  • lavabo
  • délaver
  • latrines
  • laveur
  • laveuse
  • lavure
  • lotion
  • lavandière
  • Latin lavō

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 i j k l m n o 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 Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
  4. ^ Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
  5. ^ Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
  6. ^ Wartburg, Walther von, et al. (1922–2002), Französisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch, 25 vols., Bonn / Leipzig / Basel: Klopp / Teubner / Zbinden, p. 5, 213a
  7. ^ a b Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
  8. ^ a b Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
  9. ^ Meyer-Lübke, Wilhelm (1935), Romanisches etymologisches Wörterbuch, 3rd ed., Heidelberg: Winter
  10. ^ a b Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse