mais

Pronunciation

• IPA: /mɛ/^[1]
• IPA: /mɛ.z‿/^[1]

Forms

mais^[1]

Etymology

It is inherited from Old French mais, inherited from Latin magis (“more; rather”).^[2][3][1] “Magis” meant “more”, but unlike plūs, which expressed number and quantity, it usually had the qualitative sense “rather”; it served to form periphrastic comparatives, as in “magis sanus” “healthier”.^[4] It was joined to sed (“but”) in “sed magis” “but rather”, and, from there came to be used alone as an adversative conjunction, replacing “sed” in spoken Latin and in all the Romance languages.^[4][3] Rey thinks it probably adapts an older “*mais”, known in Oscan, under the influence of magnus (“great”).^[4]

Cognate with Italian ma, Italian mai, Spanish mas, Portuguese mas and Occitan mais; Romanian mai has only the Latin sense “more”.^[3][5]

Earliest recorded meaning

In the second half of the 10th century mais is found both as an adverb of time, in ja non… mais “never again”, and as a conjunction introducing an idea contrary to one already expressed, in the Vie de saint Léger.^[6]

Semantic evolution

In Old French mais was still an adverb of quantity, “more” (late 10th century), and of time, “from now on” (mais + future, about 1100) or ne… mais “no longer” (about 1050).^[6][4] These senses survive in compounds such as jamais and désormais and in the old phrase n'en pouvoir mais “to be unable to help it” (about 1160), where mais still means “more”.^[6][3][7] In comparison, plus ousted it in French, though Spanish kept más.^[4]

The conjunction marks contradiction, restriction or objection, and at the head of a sentence a transition or surprise (mais enfin !).^[7][8]

Timeline

• 2nd half of 10th century – Ja non… mais “never again”, and the conjunction in the Vie de saint Léger.^[6]
• late 10th century – Mais “more”, in the Passion de Clermont.^[6]
• c. 1050 – Ne… mais “no longer” in the Vie de saint Alexis.^[6]
• c. 1100 – Mais + future “from now on”.^[6]
• c. 1160 – N'en pouvoir mais.^[6]

Meanings

Conjunction

1. but: introduces an idea contrary to what has been said: intelligent mais paresseux.^[1][7]
2. But: marks a restriction or a correction after a negative: ce n'est pas ma faute, mais la tienne.^[8][7]
3. At the head of a sentence, marks a transition, objection or surprise: mais c'est de la folie !.^[8]

Adverb

1. Strengthens oui, non, si: mais oui, mais bien sûr.^[8]
2. (literary) N'en pouvoir mais: to be unable to help it.^[7][8]

Interjection

1. Expresses surprise, disbelief or annoyance: mais enfin !.^[1][8]

Word family

• désormais
• jamais

Related words

• plus
• Latin magis

Usage notes

Norman dialect keeps il n'a mais que dire “he has nothing more to say” and mais que “when”.^[5]

References

1. ^ a b c d e f Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
3. ^ a b c d Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
4. ^ a b c d e Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
5. ^ a b Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
6. ^ 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
7. ^ a b c d e Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
8. ^ a b c d e f Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert