rattraper

Forms

rattraper^[1] Old and Middle French ratraper.^[2][3]

Etymology

It is from French re- + attraper (“to catch”), with the prefix in its reduced form ⟨r-⟩.^[2][4][5][6] attraper is derived from trappe “trap”, a word of West Germanic, perhaps Frankish, origin: Frankish *trappa.^[7]

The prefix gives the verb an iterative sense, “to catch again”, beside the senses of the simple verb.^[8]

Earliest recorded meaning

Its first record is in Adenet le Roi's Cléomadès (about 1280), in the sense “to catch again”.^[2][5] Rey speaks of catching an escaped prisoner a second time.^[8]

Semantic evolution

Figurative uses followed: “to deceive a second time” (1603), whence on ne m'y rattrapera plus “I won't be caught that way again” (1740), and “to catch someone in the act again” (1596).^[8] Monet records the sense “to overtake, catch up with” in 1636, which became the usual one.^[2][8] Furetière gives “to regain, recover” in 1690, the source of se rattraper “to make good one's losses” (1845), at gambling or in business.^[2][8]

The reflexive se rattraper “to catch oneself, hold on” is dated 1862 (Labiche) by the TLFi and 1872 by Rey, who gives the same date for the figurative se rattraper aux branches.^[2][8] The phrase rattraper le temps perdu is recorded by Larousse in 1875.^[5] The derived noun rattrapage dates from 1875.^[8]

Timeline

• c. 1280 – Ratraper “to catch again” in Cléomadès.^[2]
• 1596 – Used for catching someone in the act again.^[8]
• 1636 – Monet records the sense “to catch up with”.^[2]
• 1690 – Furetière records “to regain, recover”.^[2][5]
• 1740 – On ne m'y rattrapera plus is recorded.^[8]
• 1862 – Labiche uses se rattraper “to hold on”.^[2]
• 1875 – Rattraper le temps perdu in Larousse.^[5]

Meanings

Verb

1. To catch again, recapture (a person or animal that has escaped): rattraper un chien qui s'est sauvé.^[9][2]
2. To catch hold of something that is falling or getting away: rattraper une assiette au vol.^[9][5]
3. To put right (a blunder, a mistake).^[9]
4. To make up for (lost time, missed work or lessons): rattraper le temps perdu.^[9][1]
5. To overtake, catch up with someone or something ahead.^[9][1]
6. To get back, recover (something lost).^[1][2]
7. Se rattraper: to catch oneself, hold on to something so as not to fall.^[2][8]
8. Se rattraper: to make good one's losses or a mistake.^[8]

Word family

• rattrapage
• rattrapable

Related words

• attraper
• trappe

Usage notes

The figurative se rattraper aux branches (1872) means to get oneself out of a difficulty at the last moment.^[8]

References

1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m 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. ^ Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
4. ^ Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
5. ^ a b c d e f Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
6. ^ Wartburg, Walther von, et al. (1922–2002), Französisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch, 25 vols., Bonn / Leipzig / Basel: Klopp / Teubner / Zbinden, p. 17, 357b
7. ^ Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
8. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
9. ^ a b c d e Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert