Etymologically
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lentement

Etymology and origin of the French word lentement

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Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
1155, Wace
Ultimate origin
Latin (lentus)

Pronunciation

  • IPA: /lɑ̃t.mɑ̃/[1]

Forms

lentement[1]

Etymology

It is from French lente (“slow”) + -ment, from the feminine of lent, from Latin lentus (“slow; pliant”).[2][3][4][1][5]

Compare Old Occitan lentement, Spanish lentamente and Italian lentamente.[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

Wace's Brut (1155) has it in the sense “slowly”.[2]

Semantic evolution

The Livre des Rois (about 1170) uses it of slowness in time, and Brunetto Latini (about 1265) of slow movement: Scitalis est uns serpens qui va molt lentement.[6][4] Anglo-Norman also had lentement (1136–37).[7]

Timeline

  • 1136–37 – Anglo-Norman lentement.[7]
  • 1155 – Wace.[2]
  • c. 1170 – Of time, Livre des Rois.[6]
  • c. 1265 – Of movement, Brunetto Latini.[6]

Meanings

Adverb

  1. slowly, at a slow pace: marcher lentement, rivière qui coule lentement.[8][9]
  2. Slowly, gradually, little by little: les heures passent lentement.[9][6]
  3. Hâte-toi lentement: make haste slowly.[8]

References

  1. ^ a b c Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c 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. ^ a b c Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
  5. ^ Wartburg, Walther von, et al. (1922–2002), Französisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch, 25 vols., Bonn / Leipzig / Basel: Klopp / Teubner / Zbinden, p. 5, 254a
  6. ^ a b c d Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
  7. ^ a b Anglo-Norman Dictionary (AND2), Aberystwyth University, anglo-norman.net (2nd ed., 2005–)
  8. ^ a b Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
  9. ^ a b Dictionnaire de français Larousse, larousse.fr/dictionnaires/francais (accessed 2024)
Cite this entry

“Lentement.” Etymologically, 18 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/fr/lentement. Accessed 18 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·