Etymologically
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rapporter

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Pronunciation

  • IPA: /ʁa.pɔʁ.te/[1]

Forms

rapporter[1]

Etymology

It is from French re- + apporter,[2][3][4][5] from apporter, inherited from Latin apportō (“to bring”).[6] Wiktionary instead derives the Old French verb from Latin reportō (“to carry back”).[1]

Cognate with Italian rapportare.[7]

Earliest recorded meaning

The Charroi de Nîmes (about 1150) has it in the sense “to bring something back to where it was”.[2][3]

Semantic evolution

About 1165 Benoît de Sainte-Maure uses it for “to relate what one has seen or heard”,[2] and in the early 14th century it meant “to repeat (words) maliciously”, to tell tales.[2] The law gave “to return (gifts) to the estate to be shared” (1283) and “to repeal (a measure)” (1258, then 1789 of decrees).[2] The sense “to yield a profit” is recorded by Estienne in 1531–1538,[8][2] and a dog rapporte when it retrieves game (1690).[2] S'en rapporter à qqn “to rely on someone's judgment” dates from about 1350, and “to relate one thing to another” (se rapporter à) from 1538.[2]

English took rapport from the noun of this verb.[1]

Timeline

  • c. 1150 – “To bring back” in the Charroi de Nîmes.[2]
  • c. 1165 – “To report, relate” in Benoît de Sainte-Maure.[2]
  • 1283 – A term of inheritance law in Beaumanoir.[2]
  • c. 1350 – S'en rapporter à.[2]
  • 1538 – “To yield a profit” and “to relate to”.[2]
  • 1549 – “To report officially” on an inquiry.[2]
  • 1690 – Of a dog retrieving game.[2]
  • 1789 – Rapporter un décret “to repeal a decree”.[2]

Meanings

Verb

  1. To bring back; to return (something) to its place or owner.[4][9]
  2. To bring back from a journey: rapporter des souvenirs.[4]
  3. To add or fix on (a piece): pièce rapportée.[2][4]
  4. To yield, bring in (a profit): un placement qui rapporte.[4][2]
  5. Of a dog, to retrieve (game).[2]
  6. To report or relate (what one has seen or heard); (familiar) to tell tales.[4][2]
  7. To repeal (a decree or measure).[2][4]
  8. To relate (one thing to another); se rapporter à: to relate to.[2] S'en rapporter à: to rely on.[2][4]

Word family

  • rapport
  • rapportage
  • rapporteur
  • susrapporté

References

  1. ^ a b c d 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 q r s t u v w 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 Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
  5. ^ Wartburg, Walther von, et al. (1922–2002), Französisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch, 25 vols., Bonn / Leipzig / Basel: Klopp / Teubner / Zbinden, p. 25, 46b
  6. ^ Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
  7. ^ Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
  8. ^ Quemada, Bernard, ed. (1959–2006), Datations et documents lexicographiques (Base historique du vocabulaire français, BHVF), Paris: Klincksieck / CNRS / Champion; ATILF
  9. ^ Dictionnaire Le Robert en ligne, dictionnaire.lerobert.com (accessed 2024)