rougir

Forms

rougir^[1] Old French rogir, also written rugir and roigir in 12th-century texts.^[2][3] Anglo-Norman forms include roger, rojer and rujir.^[4]

Etymology

It is formed from French rouge + -ir,^[5][6][7][8] first as Old French rogir, from roge (“red”).^[1] The adjective goes back to Latin rubeus (“reddish”).^[7][1]

Cognate with Walloon rogi and Occitan rogir.^[2]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first recorded in Wace's Brut (1155), meaning “to become red”, according to the TLFi;^[5] Rey dates the same first use to about 1155 but gives it the sense “to turn red from an emotion”.^[9]

Semantic evolution

From the 12th century the verb was used of the face reddening under a feeling (Wace's Roman de Rou, 1160–1174), and very soon with the figurative value “to be ashamed”.^[5][9] It was also said of things becoming red (about 1190).^[9][10] The transitive use “to make red” appears at the end of the 12th century (Ogier le Danois, a doubtful record) and surely about 1360.^[5][9]

Rougir de quelque chose “to be ashamed of something” is recorded from 1580.^[9] The technical rougir le fer “to bring iron to red heat” dates from 1676 (Félibien), and the metaphor rougir ses mains dans le sang “to commit a murder” from Littré (1870).^[10][9] Littré also records a familiar sense “to become a cardinal”.^[2] In Rwandan French the verb has come to mean “to change colour, turn pale with emotion”.^[9]

Timeline

• 1155 – First recorded in Wace's Brut, “to become red”.^[5]
• 1160–1174 – Wace uses it of a face reddening under a feeling.^[5]
• c. 1190 – Used of things that turn red.^[9][10]
• c. 1360 – The transitive sense “to make red” is securely attested.^[5]
• 1516 – The derivative rougissement is first recorded.^[5]
• 1580 – Rougir de “to be ashamed of” appears.^[9]
• 1676 – Félibien uses rougir le fer.^[10]
• 1870 – Littré records rougir ses mains dans le sang.^[10][9]

Meanings

Verb

1. (intransitive) To become red or redder, as ripening fruit or metal in a fire: Les tomates rougissent au soleil.^[3][5]
2. (intransitive, of a person) To blush from an emotion: rougir jusqu'aux oreilles.^[3][1]
3. Rougir de: to be ashamed of something or someone.^[9][3]
4. (transitive) To make red, to redden: Le froid rougissait ses joues.^[10][2]
5. Rougir le fer: to heat iron until it glows red.^[10]
6. (dated, figurative) Rougir ses mains dans le sang: to commit a murder.^[10][9]

Word family

• rougissement

Related words

• rouge
• rougeur
• Latin rubeus

References

1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
3. ^ a b c d Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
4. ^ Anglo-Norman Dictionary (AND2), Aberystwyth University, anglo-norman.net (2nd ed., 2005–)
5. ^ a b c d e f g h i 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
6. ^ Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
7. ^ a b Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
8. ^ Wartburg, Walther von, et al. (1922–2002), Französisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch, 25 vols., Bonn / Leipzig / Basel: Klopp / Teubner / Zbinden, p. 10, 534b
9. ^ 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
10. ^ 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