proposer

Pronunciation

• IPA: /pʁɔ.po.ze/^[1]

Forms

proposer^[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Latin prōpōnō (“to place before the eyes, set forth; to intend, propose”), with its form adapted to poser.^{[2][3][4][5][1]} The Latin verb is from prō (“before”) and pōnō (“to place”) (see pondre).^[3] Littré notes that French confused “poser”, from pausō, with derivatives of positus, as in the other compounds of this kind.^[6] Wiktionary treats the Old French verb as the borrowing, inherited by modern French.^[1]

Earliest recorded meaning

The Psautier d'Oxford (first half of the 12th century) uses it in the sense “to place before the eyes” as an example, translating non proposuerunt Deum in conspectu suo.^[2]

Semantic evolution

From Latin it soon took the sense “to intend, plan” (Wace, 1130–40), as in the proverb les hommes proposent et Dieu ordonne (1409), remade as l'homme propose et Dieu dispose by Commynes; this sense passed to se proposer de (1429), so the proverb is now understood differently.^[2][3] “To utter” (about 1165) died out, but “to set before the mind” (13th century) and “to submit to a court” (1390) remained, with the nuance of putting a plan to others for their agreement (Montaigne, 1588).^[2][3] From the 13th century it also meant “to offer” (proposer pais), and with a person as object proposer sa fille in marriage (Molière, 1655) and to put forward as a candidate (1694).^[2] In the Middle Ages it often meant to set out a case, until the 17th century.^[5]

Timeline

• c. 1120 – “To place before the eyes”, Psautier d'Oxford.^[2]
• 1130–40 – “To intend”, Wace.^[2]
• 13th century – “To offer”.^[2]
• 1390 – To submit to a court.^[2]
• 1409 – Les hommes proposent et Dieu ordonne.^[2]
• 1429 – Se proposer de.^[2]
• 1655 – Proposer sa fille, Molière.^[2]

Meanings

Verb

1. To propose, suggest: proposer une solution, je propose qu'on parte.^[7][1]
2. To offer: proposer ses services, on lui a proposé un poste.^[7][1]
3. To put forward as a candidate: proposer qqn pour un poste.^[2][8]
4. (literary) To set before someone's eyes as an example: proposer qqch. à l'admiration.^[7][8]
5. Se proposer: to offer oneself, se proposer de, to intend to.^[8][2]
6. L'homme propose et Dieu dispose: man proposes, God disposes.^[2]

Word family

• propos
• à-propos
• avant-propos
• proposable
• reproposer

Related words

• proposition
• poser
• Latin prōpōnō

References

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