particulièrement

Forms

particulièrement (adverb)^[1] Middle French particulerement and particularement; the modern spelling is established in the early 17th century, with Malherbe.^[2][3][4]

Etymology

It is formed from French particulier + -ment.^[2][1][4] In its first record it translates Medieval Latin particulariter.^[2]

Cognate with Old Occitan particularment, Spanish particularmente and Italian particolarmente.^[5]

Earliest recorded meaning

It first appears as particulerement in 1314, in the French Chirurgie of Henri de Mondeville, in the sense “specially, in particular” (within a whole): the way of opening each kind of fistula in particular.^[2][6]

Semantic evolution

In 1374 Oresme used it for “in detail”, a sense Littré also finds in his accounts read “article by article” and in Amyot.^[2][5] The sense “personally, privately” is recorded from 1559 in Amyot.^[2][3] Cotgrave's dictionary of 1611 gives “in an unusual, singular way”, from which comes the modern intensive use, as in particulièrement sensible.^[2][6]

Timeline

• 1314 – Particulerement “specially” in Henri de Mondeville's Chirurgie.^[2][6]
• c. 1346 – The form particularement is recorded.^[4]
• 1374 – Oresme uses it for “in detail”.^[2]
• 1559 – Amyot uses it for “personally, privately”.^[2][3]
• 1611 – Cotgrave gives “in a singular way”.^[2]

Meanings

Adverb

1. In particular, especially, above all (within a set): Elle aime les fruits, particulièrement les cerises.^[6][2]
2. To an unusual degree, particularly: un travail particulièrement difficile;^[6] il n'est pas particulièrement doué.^[6]
3. In a private or intimate way: je ne le connais pas particulièrement, I don't know him personally.^[6][3]
4. (dated) In detail.^[5][2]

Related words

• particulier
• particularité

References

1. ^ a b c 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 c d Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
4. ^ a b c Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
5. ^ a b c Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
6. ^ a b c d e f g Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert