propos

Pronunciation

• IPA: /pʁɔ.po/^[1]

Forms

propos m (invariable)^[1] Purpos (about 1180); propos from the 13th century.^[2][3][4]

Etymology

It is a deverbal noun from French proposer (“to propose”), modelled on Latin prōpositum (“plan, intention; theme”), the neuter past participle of prōpōnō (“to set forth”).^{[5][2][3][6][7]} “Proposer” is itself the Latin verb refashioned after poser.^[6] The sense “talk exchanged in conversation” developed in French about the 15th century.^[6]

Earliest recorded meaning

At the end of the 12th century purpos is what one intends to do, an intention or plan, Manessier's continuation of Perceval (1214–27) has the same sense, and ferm propos “firm resolution” is found in 1216.^[3][5]

Semantic evolution

About 1380 it named the subject one sets out to treat, and about 1510 the words exchanged in conversation, in the plural.^[5] Commynes, at the end of the 15th century, has a tous propos “at every moment” and à propos “at the right moment”, bien and mal a propos are in Robert Estienne (1538), à propos de “about” and à ce propos in Montaigne (1580).^[5] À propos opening a sentence, “by the way”, is found in 1579.^[5][8] The noun à-propos (1700) named a piece written for an occasion.^[5][6] Old games of propos interrompus are recorded from 1704.^[3][9]

Timeline

• c. 1180 – Purpos, an intention.^[2]
• 1216 – Ferm propos.^[5]
• c. 1380 – The subject of a work, Jean Lefèvre.^[5]
• Late 15th century – À propos and a tous propos, Commynes.^[5]
• c. 1510 – Words in a conversation.^[5]
• 1579 – À propos introducing a sentence.^[8]
• 1580 – À propos de, Montaigne.^[5]
• 1584 – Avant-propos.^[6]
• 1700 – À-propos, an occasional piece.^[5]

Meanings

Noun

1. (literary) An intention, purpose, aim: ce n'est pas mon propos, de propos délibéré, (religion) ferme propos.^[4][10]
2. (usually plural) Words, remarks: des propos déplacés, tenir des propos.^[11][1]
3. À propos de: about, concerning, à ce propos, à tout propos, at every turn, hors de propos, irrelevant.^[4][11]
4. À propos: at the right moment, fittingly, mal à propos; as an interjection, by the way.^[3][11]

Word family

• à-propos
• avant-propos

Related words

• proposer
• proposition
• poser

References

1. ^ a b c Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
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 e Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
4. ^ a b c Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l 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
6. ^ a b c d e Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
7. ^ Wartburg, Walther von, et al. (1922–2002), Französisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch, 25 vols., Bonn / Leipzig / Basel: Klopp / Teubner / Zbinden, p. 8, 71a
8. ^ a b Quemada, Bernard, ed. (1959–2006), Datations et documents lexicographiques (Base historique du vocabulaire français, BHVF), Paris: Klincksieck / CNRS / Champion; ATILF
9. ^ Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
10. ^ Dictionnaire Le Robert en ligne, dictionnaire.lerobert.com (accessed 2024)
11. ^ a b c Dictionnaire de français Larousse, larousse.fr/dictionnaires/francais (accessed 2024)