rendre

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ʁɑ̃dʁ/^[1]

Forms

rendre^[1]

Etymology

It is inherited from Old French rendre, inherited from Vulgar Latin *rendō, an alteration of Latin reddō (“to give back”) under the influence of *prendō “to take”, its opposite.^[2][3][4][5] Latin “reddere” is formed from red- (“back”) and dō (“to give”).^[6][3] Littré instead explained the “n” as an intercalated nasal.^[7]

Cognate with Italian rendere, Occitan rendre, Spanish rendir and Portuguese render; the unaltered Latin form survives in Romanian reda, Catalan retre and Old Occitan “redre”.^[4][8]

Earliest recorded meaning

About 980 the Passion of Clermont has La sua morz vida nos rend “his death gives us back life”; the Vie de saint Léger of the same period uses it for giving back what was entrusted.^[2]

Semantic evolution

From the first texts it meant to give back in return, to restore or repay (rendre des coups, 1080) and to discharge a duty or give thanks (rendre grâces).^[3][2] From 1080 it also meant to hand over, surrender (rendre les armes) and to deliver an opinion: rendre compte (1155), rendre un jugement (about 1170).^[3][2] Se rendre “to capitulate” dates from about 1160.^[2]

The idea of giving up what cannot be kept gave “to vomit” (about 1165) and rendre l'âme “to die” (1256).^[2][3] From the sense “to bring into a state” came the very common “to make” (rendre heureux, 1080).^[3] Since the 16th century it has also meant to reproduce or express (rendre un effet, 1531), whence to translate.^[3] Rendre visite is from 1669.^[3] The verb passed into English as to render in the 14th century.^[8]

Timeline

• c. 980 – Rend in the Passion of Clermont.^[2][9]
• c. 1100 – Rendre colps and rendre ses armes in the Chanson de Roland.^[2]
• 1155 – Rendre cunte in Wace.^[2]
• c. 1160 – Se rendre “to surrender”.^[2]
• c. 1165 – The sense “to vomit”.^[2]
• 1256 – Rendre l'âme.^[3]
• 1584 – Rendez-vous.^[4]
• c. 1590 – Rendre la pareille in Montaigne.^[2]
• 1669 – Rendre visite.^[3]

Meanings

Verb

1. To give back, return: rendre un livre prêté, rendre la monnaie.^[8][2]
2. To give in return or as due: rendre service, rendre hommage, rendre visite.^[8][10]
3. To make, cause to be: rendre heureux, rendre public.^[1][8]
4. To deliver, pronounce: rendre un jugement, rendre compte.^[3][1]
5. To express, convey, translate: rendre une idée.^[1]
6. To yield, produce: cette terre rend bien.^[11][1]
7. To vomit: rendre son déjeuner.^[1][3]
8. Se rendre: to surrender; to go somewhere: se rendre à Paris.^[1]

Word family

• rendez-vous
• rendu
• rendement
• rente

Related words

• prendre
• reddition
• Latin reddō
• English render

References

1. ^ a b c d e f g h 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. ^ 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
4. ^ a b c Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
5. ^ Wartburg, Walther von, et al. (1922–2002), Französisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch, 25 vols., Bonn / Leipzig / Basel: Klopp / Teubner / Zbinden, p. 10, 171a
6. ^ Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
7. ^ Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
8. ^ a b c d e Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
9. ^ Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
10. ^ Dictionnaire Le Robert en ligne, dictionnaire.lerobert.com (accessed 2024)
11. ^ Dictionnaire de français Larousse, larousse.fr/dictionnaires/francais (accessed 2024)