retomber

Forms

retomber^[1]

Etymology

It is formed from French re- + tomber.^[2][3][4][1] It was first written retumber (1510), as tomber was then often written tumber.^[5][3][4] Littré notes that the 13th-century retombir (“to resound”) has nothing to do with it.^[6]

Earliest recorded meaning

Bloch and Wartburg date retumber to 1510, with no sense given; the sense “to fall a second time” is recorded by Robert Estienne in 1538.^[5][4][2]

Semantic evolution

Estienne also gave the sense “to come back down after being raised” in 1538.^[2] Figurative senses followed those of tomber: “to fall back into a bad situation” (Amyot, 1559, of people relapsing into their illness) and “to fall back into sin” (1541 according to Rey, 1591 in Desportes according to the Treasury of the French Language).^[7][2] Retomber malade is recorded in 1782.^[2]

In the 17th century the verb came to mean “to redound on someone”, of honour in Corneille (1640) and of harmful effects in Pascal (1657).^[2][4] Furetière (1690) records “to find oneself again in a place” and the proverb qui crache au Ciel, il lui retombe sur le visage, later il a craché en l'air et ça lui est retombé sur le nez (Larousse, 1875).^[2][4][7] The verb gave the noun retombée (first retumbée, 1518), used from about 1963 for radioactive fallout.^[5][7]

Timeline

• 1510 – Retumber is first recorded.^[5][4]
• 1538 – Robert Estienne records retomber “to fall again”.^[2][4]
• 1559 – Amyot uses it for relapsing into an illness.^[2]
• 1591 – Desportes uses it for falling back into error.^[2]
• 1640 – Corneille uses it of honour reflecting on someone.^[2]
• 1690 – Furetière records the proverb about spitting at the sky.^[4]
• 1782 – Retomber malade is recorded in Madame de Genlis.^[2]

Meanings

Verb

1. To fall again; to land again after rising or jumping: retomber sur ses pieds.^[8][2][6]
2. (figurative) To fall back into a bad state or situation: retomber malade, to relapse.^[8][2]
3. Of things, to fall back after rising, or to come down again.^[8][6]
4. To hang down, of draperies or hair.^[8][6]
5. Retomber sur: to fall back on someone, to weigh on them in return, as blame or responsibility.^[8][2]
6. (figurative) To sink back, to subside: of anger, interest or a fever.^[8]

Word family

• retombée
• retombement

Related words

• tomber

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 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 Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
4. ^ a b c d e f g h Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
5. ^ a b c d Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
6. ^ a b c d Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
7. ^ a b c Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
8. ^ a b c d e f Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert