Etymologically
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murmurer

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Pronunciation

  • IPA: /myʁ.my.ʁe/[1]

Forms

murmurer[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Latin murmurō (“to murmur, mutter; to grumble; to rumble, crackle”), from murmur (“rumble, low noise”).[2][3][4][5][6][1] The noun is expressive, probably imitative, with counterparts in Armenian, Ancient Greek μορμύρω (mormúrō, “to roar, boil”) and Sanskrit मर्मर (marmara, “rustling”).[3][5] The sense of grumbling was developed especially in the language of the Bible.[2][3] Rey suggests that the weakening to “speak softly” may be linked with the change of Latin /u/ to French /y/.[3]

Compare Occitan murmurar, Spanish murmurar and Italian mormorare.[7]

Earliest recorded meaning

The Psautier d'Oxford (first half of the 12th century) uses it for grumbling, protesting under one's breath: murmurerent en lur tabernacles “they murmured in their tents”.[2][7]

Semantic evolution

Chrétien de Troyes's Cligès (1176) has it transitively for speaking in a low voice, and the intransitive use follows in the 13th century.[2][3] About 1200 Jean Renart uses it of a stream, a use very frequent in Ronsard (Au son des vers que tu murmures).[2][7] Amyot (mid-16th century) has murmurer entre leurs dents.[7][5] The noun murmure dates from about 1170.[3]

Timeline

  • First half of the 12th century – “To grumble”, Psautier d'Oxford.[2]
  • c. 1170 – The noun murmure.[3]
  • 1176 – “To speak softly”, Chrétien de Troyes.[2]
  • c. 1200 – Of a stream, Jean Renart.[2]

Meanings

Verb

  1. To murmur, say in a low voice: murmurer quelques mots à l'oreille de quelqu'un.[8][1]
  2. To grumble, complain under one's breath: obéir sans murmurer.[8][2]
  3. (literary) Of water, leaves, wind: to make a soft sound.[8][2]

Word family

  • murmurant
  • murmurateur
  • murmure

References

  1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j 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. ^ a b c Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
  6. ^ Wartburg, Walther von, et al. (1922–2002), Französisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch, 25 vols., Bonn / Leipzig / Basel: Klopp / Teubner / Zbinden, p. 6/3, 230b
  7. ^ a b c d Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
  8. ^ a b c Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert