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partager

Etymology and origin of the French word partager

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Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
1553, Joachim du Bellay
Ultimate origin
Latin (partior)

Pronunciation

  • IPA: /paʁ.ta.ʒe/[1]

Forms

partager[1]

Etymology

It is formed from French partage + -er.[2][1][3][4] It took over the sense “to divide, share” from the older verb partir, which kept only the sense “to leave”.[2][1] The FEW files it with the other descendants of Latin partior (“to share, divide”).[5]

The Grand Robert and the GLLF date it from a royal ordinance of 1398, but the TLFi reads the word there, “partaigier”, as a separate derivative meaning “to make a ship ready to leave”, formed on “partage” in the sense “departure”.[2][3][4] Anglo-Norman already had “partager” “to apportion, share” in the early 14th century.[6]

Earliest recorded meaning

In Joachim du Bellay's poetry (1553) it means “to grant as one's share”: Premierement sur mon cœur partagée “first given a share of my heart”.[2][7]

Semantic evolution

In the 17th century the senses multiplied: dividing an inheritance among heirs (1630, d'Aubigné), being endowed with a quality, as in Descartes's le bon sens est la chose du monde la mieux partagée “good sense is the most evenly shared thing in the world” (1637), dividing one's attention (1667, Corneille, se partager) and dividing a whole into parts (1678–81, Bossuet).[2] Partager quelque chose avec quelqu'un is in Pascal (1657).[4]

From Montaigne (1580) one could share another's feelings, and, from Balzac (1833) another's ideas.[4] The past participle partagé “divided, in disagreement” is used of opinions by Pascal (1656–57).[2]

Timeline

  • 1398 – Partaigier in a royal ordinance, of a ship about to sail.[2][4]
  • 1553 – “To grant as a share”, Du Bellay.[2]
  • 1580 – To share feelings, Montaigne.[4]
  • 1630 – To divide an inheritance, d'Aubigné.[2]
  • 1637 – La chose du monde la mieux partagée, Descartes.[2]
  • 1657 – Partager avec, Pascal.[4]
  • 1833 – To share ideas, Balzac.[4]

Meanings

Verb

  1. To divide up, split into parts to be given out or used differently: partager un héritage, partager une pomme en deux.[8][1]
  2. To share something with someone, give them part of it: partager les bénéfices.[8][1]
  3. To have in common, take part in: partager le repas de qqn, partager une opinion, partager la joie de qqn.[4][2]
  4. (past participle) Divided, in disagreement: les avis sont partagés.[2]
  5. Se partager: to divide oneself (between activities); to be divided.[2][8]

Word family

  • partageable

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m 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 Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
  5. ^ Wartburg, Walther von, et al. (1922–2002), Französisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch, 25 vols., Bonn / Leipzig / Basel: Klopp / Teubner / Zbinden, p. 7, 682b
  6. ^ Anglo-Norman Dictionary (AND2), Aberystwyth University, anglo-norman.net (2nd ed., 2005–)
  7. ^ 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
Cite this entry

“Partager.” Etymologically, 18 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/fr/partager. Accessed 18 Oct. 2026.

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