remise

Forms

remise f (plural remises)^[1]

Etymology

It is from French remettre, the feminine past participle used as a noun; compare mise from mettre.^[2][3][1][4] The verb is inherited from Latin remittō (“to send back, to remit”).^[4][5] For the sense “remission of sins” the TLFi compares Christian Latin remissa, used in the phrase for remission of sins.^[2] The Italian parallel is rimessa.^[5]

Earliest recorded meaning

It appears in 1260 in the accounts of the town of Sens, beside mise, in a sense that is not clear; in 1311 a Picard customary uses it for the act of putting something back in its place.^[2][4]

Semantic evolution

The sense “putting back” is isolated in 1311 and found again from 1511; it later gave technical uses such as remise à l'heure (1876), remise en jeu in sport (1935) and remise à zéro (1964).^[2] In law it meant a pardon or reduction of a penalty (1482), and a postponement (about 1513).^[2][3] Cotgrave records the renunciation of a debt and the handing over of something in 1611; in commerce and finance it named a banker's commission (1671), a discount (1680) and remittances of money (1690).^[2][4]

As a place word it first belonged to hunting, the spot where game stops (before 1525), then the copse where it takes cover (1694).^[2][4] In the 17th century it became a shed for carriages (1659), whence carrosse de remise (1735), a hired carriage, and English took remise in this sense in 1698; from 1879 it is any shed or lumber room.^[2][4] From this sense came remiser (1761) and remisage (1867), while the commercial sense gave remisier (1860).^[4]

Timeline

• 1260 – In the accounts of the town of Sens, sense unclear.^[2]
• 1311 – “Putting back in a place”, in a Picard customary.^[2][4]
• 1482 – “Pardon, reduction of a penalty”.^[2][3]
• c. 1513 – “Postponement”, in Cretin.^[2]
• before 1525 – In hunting, the place where game stops.^[2]
• 1611 – Cotgrave records “renunciation of a debt” and “handing over”.^[2][3]
• 1659 – A shed for carriages.^[2]
• 1680 – Richelet records “discount”.^[2]
• 1698 – English borrows remise for a hired carriage.^[2]
• 1769 – Rousseau uses it for the revival of a play.^[2]
• 1924 – A boxing term, in Montherlant.^[2][6]
• 1964 – Remise à zéro “resetting”.^[2]

Meanings

Noun

1. The act of putting something back in its place or former state, in phrases such as remise en état, remise en jeu, remise à zéro.^[7][2]
2. The act of delivering or handing something over: la remise des prix, la remise des clés.^[7][2][8]
3. The renunciation of a debt; a tax relief; a discount or price reduction: une remise de dix pour cent.^[7][2]
4. A reduction of a penalty, remise de peine; the remission of sins.^[7][2]
5. A postponement; in law, remise de cause, the adjournment of a hearing.^[7][2]
6. (hunting) A copse that serves as a shelter for game.^[7][2]
7. A shed for vehicles; by extension, any storeroom: Les outils sont rangés dans la remise.^[7][2]
8. (historical) Voiture de remise, a hired carriage.^[7][2]

Word family

• remiser
• remisage
• remisier

Related words

• remettre
• mise
• Latin remitto

References

1. ^ a b c 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 x y z 27 28 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 Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
4. ^ a b c d e f g h Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
5. ^ a b Meyer-Lübke, Wilhelm (1935), Romanisches etymologisches Wörterbuch, 3rd ed., Heidelberg: Winter
6. ^ Quemada, Bernard, ed. (1959–2006), Datations et documents lexicographiques (Base historique du vocabulaire français, BHVF), Paris: Klincksieck / CNRS / Champion; ATILF
7. ^ 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
8. ^ Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette