Etymologically
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pendant

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Pronunciation

  • IPA: /pɑ̃.dɑ̃/[1]

Forms

pendant[1]

Etymology

It is the present participle of pendre, used as an adjective, noun and preposition.[2][3][4][5] The preposition comes from the participle in the legal sense “pending, undecided”: Old French phrases such as “le plait pendant” “the case being pending” became “pendant le plait” when the participle was moved before the noun.[3][4] They were modelled on Late Latin ablative absolutes such as “lite pendente” and “judicio pendente”, from pendeō (“to hang; to be undecided”).[3][4][6]

The adverb cependant comes from the related phrase “ce pendant” “this being pending”.[3][4]

Earliest recorded meaning

The adjective pendant “hanging” is found about 1138 in Geffrei Gaimar, and the noun pendanz, cords for fastening a cloak, at the end of the 11th century.[2][7][5] The preposition appears in 1278, in legal phrases about a pending case.[3]

Semantic evolution

In Old French the preposition was tied to legal terms, then used with words such as année, jour, terme for a time limit within which a legal act had to happen.[3] In 1321 it introduced a period (pendant trois années accomplies), and, from 1432 it meant simply “during”.[3] Pendant que “while” comes from ce temps pendant que (1328–42) through ce pendant que (late 14th century) and is found in 1422, Montaigne gave it shades of cause (1580) and contrast (1588).[3]

As a noun, pendant named a sword belt (about 1260), earrings (pendans, 1346, pendant d'oreille, 1575), and, from 1690, one of a matched pair of pictures, whence faire pendant à “to match” (1763) and figuratively a person or thing like another (Voltaire, 1776).[2][8] The adjective also means “pending” of a lawsuit or question (about 1265).[2][7]

Timeline

  • Late 11th century – Pendanz, cords for fastening a garment.[2][5]
  • c. 1138 – The adjective “hanging” in Gaimar.[7][5]
  • c. 1265 – Pendant “undecided”, in Brunetto Latini.[2][7]
  • 1278 – The preposition, in legal phrases.[3]
  • 1346 – Pendans, earrings.[2]
  • 1422 – Pendant que.[3]
  • 1432 – The preposition in the sense “during”.[3]
  • 1690 – Pendants, a pair of matching pictures.[2]

Meanings

Preposition

  1. during, throughout: pendant l'hiver, pendant trois jours.[6][9]
  2. Pendant que: while; also whereas: pendant que vous y êtes.[9][3]
  3. (adverb) During that time: avant, pendant et après.[9]

Adjective

  1. Hanging: les bras pendants.[5][10]
  2. Pending, unresolved: une affaire pendante.[7][10]

Noun

  1. Pendants d'oreilles: earrings.[6][1]
  2. A counterpart, match: faire pendant à.[6][1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ 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
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
  4. ^ a b c d Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
  5. ^ a b c d e Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
  6. ^ a b c d Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
  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. ^ Quemada, Bernard, ed. (1959–2006), Datations et documents lexicographiques (Base historique du vocabulaire français, BHVF), Paris: Klincksieck / CNRS / Champion; ATILF
  9. ^ a b c Dictionnaire de français Larousse, larousse.fr/dictionnaires/francais (accessed 2024)
  10. ^ a b Dictionnaire Le Robert en ligne, dictionnaire.lerobert.com (accessed 2024)