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présenter

Etymology and origin of the French word présenter

History Permalink
Confidence
Established
Formation
Borrowing
First attested
c. 880, Séquence de sainte Eulalie
Borrowed from
Latin praesento
Ultimate origin
Latin (praesēns)
Etymology tree
inherited borrowed derived
Latin praesento
French présenter
Latin repraesento
French représenter

Pronunciation

  • IPA: /pʁe.zɑ̃.te/[1]

Forms

présenter[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Latin praesentō (“to make present; to offer”), a word of the Imperial period, from praesēns (“present”).[2][3][4][5] Bloch and Wartburg call the Latin verb Late Latin.[6] Wiktionary notes that it can also be analysed within French as présent with “-er”.[1]

Cognate with Old Occitan presentar, Spanish presentar and Italian presentare.[7]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is one of the oldest French words: in the Sequence of Saint Eulalia (about 880) the saint fut presentede Maximiien, brought before the emperor Maximian.[2][3]

Semantic evolution

From the start it meant to bring a person into another's presence, and, from about 1050 to put a thing before someone (Life of Saint Alexis).[2][3] Later medieval uses were to submit for judgement (Marie de France, about 1170), to express (1188) and to bring to mind (about 1200); the reflexive meant to appear (1080) and to offer oneself (about 1170).[2][3]

Most of its modern senses were fixed by the end of the 16th century: to propose someone for a post (1599), to describe in a certain way (Montaigne, 1588), to turn in a direction (1538), to display goods for sale (1567) and to bring a work before the public (1561, common from the 19th century).[3][2] Military présenter les armes dates from 1753, and proposing a candidate for an election from 1857 (Tocqueville).[3][2] Informally présenter bien means to make a good impression.[8][1]

Timeline

  • c. 880 – Presentede, in the Sequence of Saint Eulalia.[2]
  • c. 1050 – To put a thing before someone.[2]
  • c. 1170 – To submit for judgement, Marie de France.[2]
  • 1561 – To bring a work before the public, Ronsard.[2]
  • 1599 – To propose someone for a post.[2]
  • 1753 – Présenter les armes.[3][9]
  • 1857 – To put forward a candidate, Tocqueville.[2]

Meanings

Verb

  1. To introduce (a person to another): je vous présente mon frère.[10][11]
  2. To offer, hold out: présenter un plat, la main.[7][2]
  3. To show, submit for examination: présenter son billet, ses papiers.[8]
  4. To set out, expound; to describe in a certain way: présenter un projet.[2][3]
  5. To bring before the public; to host (a programme): présenter le journal.[2][1]
  6. To have, show (a feature): présenter des avantages.[2][3]
  7. (familiar, intransitive) Présenter bien, mal: to make a good or bad impression.[8][1]
  8. Se présenter: to introduce oneself; to appear, turn up; to arise (of a problem); to stand as a candidate.[1][10]

Word family

  • présentable
  • présentateur
  • présentation

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p 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 Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
  4. ^ Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
  5. ^ Wartburg, Walther von, et al. (1922–2002), Französisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch, 25 vols., Bonn / Leipzig / Basel: Klopp / Teubner / Zbinden, p. 9, 308b
  6. ^ Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
  7. ^ a b Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
  8. ^ a b c Dictionnaire de français Larousse, larousse.fr/dictionnaires/francais (accessed 2024)
  9. ^ Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
  10. ^ a b Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
  11. ^ Dictionnaire Le Robert en ligne, dictionnaire.lerobert.com (accessed 2024)

Related etymologies

Cite this entry

“Présenter.” Etymologically, 18 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/fr/pr%C3%A9senter. Accessed 18 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·