Etymologically
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présenter

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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)