présentement

Forms

présentement^[1]

Etymology

It is formed from French présent¹ + -ment,^[2][3][4] on the feminine présente of the adjective.^[5][6] The adjective is from Latin praesēns.^[7]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first found about 1155 in Wace's Roman de Brut, meaning “now”.^[2][3]

Semantic evolution

In older French it often meant “at once, there and then”: Villehardouin's chronicle (early 13th century), Froissart and Montaigne use it, and in the 16th century Robert Estienne glosses presentement as tout à l'heure ou sur l'heure “right away”.^[5] The phrase présentement que “now that” was also used.^[5]

In France the adverb is now dated or literary, a synonym of maintenant and à présent, but it remains in ordinary use in Quebec and in French-speaking Africa.^[2][8]

Timeline

• c. 1155 – Wace uses presentement “now” in the Roman de Brut.^[2][3][4]
• Early 13th century – Villehardouin uses it of people present at an event.^[5]
• 16th century – Robert Estienne explains it as “right away”.^[5]

Meanings

Adverb

1. (dated or literary in France; current in Quebec and Africa) now, at the present time, at the moment of speaking, actuellement: il est présentement à Lyon.^[8][2][4]
2. Tout présentement: at this very moment, right now.^[5][2]
3. (old) Présentement que: now that.^[5]

Related words

• présent¹
• présence
• Latin praesēns

References

1. ^ a b Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f 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 Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
4. ^ a b c Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
5. ^ a b c d e f g Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
6. ^ Wiktionnaire (French Wiktionary), fr.wiktionary.org
7. ^ Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
8. ^ a b Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert