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renforcer

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Etymology and origin of the French word renforcer

Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
1155 Wace, Brut More words from the 12th century
Ultimate origin
Late Latin fortia
From the same root
English reinforcement ← renforcer

Pronunciation

  • /ʁɑ̃.fɔʁ.se/[1]

Forms

renforcer[1] Old French renforcier, replaced by renforcer in the 13th century.[2][3]

Etymology

It is formed from French re- + enforcier, the old verb meaning to make stronger (about 1130), with the prefix marking intensity.[3][2][4][1] That verb is formed from en- and force.[2][5] The FEW lists it under Late Latin fortia (“strength”).[6] Littré compares Picard renforcher.[7]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first recorded as renforcier in Wace's Brut (1155), meaning to make something stronger or more solid.[3][8]

Semantic evolution

About 1165–1175 it was also used abstractly, of making suffering more intense.[3][2] In the 14th century it was said of fortified houses (1340) and of raising a bid at an auction (1341).[3] The military sense, increasing the numbers of a troop, dates from the end of the 16th century (d'Aubigné) and was the first of a series of specialized uses.[2][8] From 1762 (Rousseau) it meant to make an opinion or position firmer, a sense that is still very much alive.[2][8]

The past participle renforcé had an old religious sense, “struck with aggravation (of an excommunication)”, about 1283; it now qualifies a thicker, sturdier part, and in the familiar un âne renforcé (La Fontaine, 1668) it meant “complete, out-and-out”, a use now archaic.[2][3][7]

Timeline

  • 1155 – Wace's Brut has renforcier “make stronger”.[3]
  • c. 1165 – Used of making suffering more intense.[3]
  • 13th century – The form renforcer appears.[2][8]
  • 1340 – The derivative renfort is recorded.[4]
  • 1341 – In the sense “raise a bid”.[3]
  • 1388 – Renforcement is recorded.[4]
  • late 16th century – The military sense “add to a troop's numbers”.[2][8]
  • 1668 – La Fontaine writes un âne renforcé.[3]
  • 1762 – Rousseau uses it of strengthening a conviction.[2][8]

Meanings

Verb

  1. To make stronger or more resistant; to reinforce a wall or support.[9][8]
  2. To increase the numbers of a group or troop with reinforcements.[9][8]
  3. To make more intense: a colour, a sound, an expression.[9]
  4. (figurative) To make firmer or more certain; to strengthen someone in an opinion.[9][8]

Word family

  • renfort
  • renforcement

References

  1. ^ a b c Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j 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
  4. ^ a b c Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
  5. ^ Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
  6. ^ Wartburg, Walther von, et al. (1922–2002), Französisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch, 25 vols., Bonn / Leipzig / Basel: Klopp / Teubner / Zbinden, p. 3, 728a
  7. ^ a b Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
  8. ^ a b c d e f g h i Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
  9. ^ a b c d Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
Cite this entry

“Renforcer.” Etymologically, 14 Nov. 2026, etymologically.com/fr/renforcer. Accessed 15 Nov. 2026.

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