profondément

Forms

profondément^[1] Old French profondement, without the accent.^[2][3]

Etymology

It is formed from French profond + -ment.^[4][1][5][2] The older Old French adverb parfondement, used in the Chanson de Roland, was formed on the Old French adjective parfont.^[3][6]

Cognate with Old Occitan profondamens, Italian profondamente and Spanish profundamente.^[6]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first recorded about 1225 in Gautier de Coinci's Miracles de Nostre Dame, meaning “bowing very low”.^[4][2][3]

Semantic evolution

The concrete sense “at a great depth” is found in 1358–59, in the municipal accounts of Tours, and the figurative “going to the heart of things” about 1380, in Jean Lefèvre.^[4][2] Robert Estienne in 1549 is the GLLF's first record of the word marking the intensity of an action, as in sleeping or breathing deeply.^[3] In the 16th century Amyot and Montaigne used it of deep thought and sound sleep.^[6] Today it also means “intensely, thoroughly”, of feelings and convictions, and simply “extremely” before an adjective.^[7][4]

Timeline

• c. 1225 – Profondement “bowing low”, in Gautier de Coinci.^[4][2]
• 1358–59 – “At a great depth”, in the accounts of Tours.^[4][2]
• c. 1380 – Figurative “going to the bottom of things”, in Jean Lefèvre.^[4][2]
• 1549 – Robert Estienne records it of intense actions.^[3]

Meanings

Adverb

1. Deeply, far below the surface: un pieu profondément enfoncé.^[7][4][3]
2. With intensity, fully: dormir profondément (to sleep soundly), respirer profondément;^[7][3] saluer profondément, bowing low.^[7][3]
3. Going to the bottom of things, thoroughly: Elle a étudié la question profondément.^[7][4]
4. Inwardly, intensely and lastingly, of feelings and beliefs: profondément convaincu.^[7]
5. Extremely, utterly: profondément déçu.^[7]

Related words

• profond
• profondeur
• approfondir

References

1. ^ a b c Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
3. ^ a b c d e f g h Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
4. ^ a b c d e f g h i 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. ^ Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
6. ^ a b c Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
7. ^ a b c d e f g Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert