potencé

Forms

potencé (feminine potencée)^[1]

Etymology

It is formed from French potence + -é.^{[2][1][3][4][5]} The base, first meaning “crutch”, is from Medieval Latin potentia (“crutch”), a figurative use of Latin potentia (“power, strength”) taken in the sense “support”.^[6]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first recorded in 1456, in La Sale, as a term of heraldry.^[7][3] Littré quotes Jehan de Saintré on a bend of silver with two golden crosslets potencées, contre-potencées.^[8] The Grand Robert and the Petit Robert date it to 1459.^[2][1]

Semantic evolution

It has kept its heraldic sense from the 15th century, of a figure ending in the shape of a potence, and Rey notes that it is still in use.^[3][8] The DMF records croix potencee for a cross whose arms end in a T, used of the cross of Jerusalem.^[9] Balzac and Zola use the phrase in describing coats of arms.^[4]

Timeline

• 1456 – First recorded, in heraldry, in La Sale.^[7][3]
• 1459 – The date the Grand Robert and the Petit Robert give.^[2][1]
• 1836 – Balzac describes a cross potencée et contre-potencée.^[4]
• 1873 – Littré defines it as a term of blazon.^[8]

Meanings

Adjective

1. (heraldry) Of a figure, ending in a T, or edged with small T-shaped potences: croix potencée, a cross potent.^[1][4][7][8]

Related words

• potence
• Latin potentia

References

1. ^ a b c d e Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
2. ^ a b c Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
3. ^ a b c d Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
4. ^ a b c d 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
5. ^ Wartburg, Walther von, et al. (1922–2002), Französisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch, 25 vols., Bonn / Leipzig / Basel: Klopp / Teubner / Zbinden, p. 9, 253b
6. ^ Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
7. ^ a b c Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
8. ^ a b c d Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
9. ^ Dictionnaire du Moyen Français, version 2015 (DMF 2015), ATILF – CNRS & Université de Lorraine, atilf.fr/dmf