Etymologically
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refaire

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Pronunciation

  • IPA: /ʁə.fɛʁ/[1]

Forms

refaire[1]

Etymology

It is from French re- + faire.[2][3][1][4] faire continues Latin faciō (“to make, do”).[5][6]

It matches Picard erfoère (“to redo; to dupe”), Walloon rifé, Old Occitan refar, Catalan refer, Spanish rehacer and Italian rifare.[7]

Earliest recorded meaning

The Voyage de saint Brendan (about 1112–1120) has être refait for being rested, restored to vigour;[2][4] Chrétien de Troyes uses se refaire in Erec (about 1170).[2][4]

Semantic evolution

Wace has it for making something be done again (1130–1140) and for repairing, restoring (1155); about 1160–1174 it meant “to do in turn”.[2] The 12th century also has it for rebuilding: refaire e pupler the kingdoms, le temple neteer e refaire.[7]

In slang it meant “to dupe” (1700) and “to rob” (about 1800); il est refait comme un Claude “he let himself be fooled like a simpleton” is from 1820–1840.[2] Among gamblers se refaire is to win back one's losses (before 1720, Mme du Noyer), and cela vous refera “that will set you up again” is in Casanova.[2][8] Modern phrases include refaire sa vie “to start a new life” and refaire surface “to resurface”.[1]

Timeline

  • c. 1112 – Être refait “to be restored”, in the Voyage de saint Brendan.[4][2]
  • 1130–1140 – “To have (something) done again”, in Wace.[2]
  • 1155 – “To repair, restore”, in Wace's Brut.[2]
  • c. 1170 – Se refaire, in Chrétien de Troyes.[2]
  • 1700 – Slang “to dupe”.[2]
  • before 1720 – Se refaire at gambling.[2][8]

Meanings

Verb

  1. To redo, do again: refaire un pansement, refaire les mêmes erreurs.[9][1]
  2. To remake, do differently, recast: refaire entièrement un ouvrage.[9][1]
  3. To repair, renovate: refaire la toiture.[1][2]
  4. (reflexive) Se refaire: to recover one's strength, recuperate, (gambling) to win back one's losses.[1][2][8]
  5. (familiar) To dupe, cheat: être refait.[2][4]
  6. Refaire sa vie: to start a new life, refaire surface, to resurface.[1]

Word family

  • refait
  • réfection

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i 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. ^ Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
  4. ^ a b c d e Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
  5. ^ Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
  6. ^ Wartburg, Walther von, et al. (1922–2002), Französisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch, 25 vols., Bonn / Leipzig / Basel: Klopp / Teubner / Zbinden, p. 3, 347b
  7. ^ a b Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
  8. ^ a b c Quemada, Bernard, ed. (1959–2006), Datations et documents lexicographiques (Base historique du vocabulaire français, BHVF), Paris: Klincksieck / CNRS / Champion; ATILF
  9. ^ a b Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert