sérieusement

Forms

sérieusement^[1]

Etymology

It is formed from French sérieux + -ment,^[2][3][1][4] on the feminine sérieuse, as Littré notes.^[5] The adjective sérieux is a borrowing from Late Latin sēriōsus, a derivative of Classical Latin sērius (“serious, earnest”).^[6]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first found about 1380 in the Latin–French glossary Aalma, where it translates Latin seriose.^[2][7]

Semantic evolution

Montaigne's Essais give most of the modern senses: “in a grave, serious way” (1580), “without joking” (1588) and, about 1590, “with application” and “really, truly”.^[2][7] The Quemada datings note that the FEW dated the sense “without joking” only to Pascal (1657).^[8]

Pascal's Provinciales (1656–1657) also use it for something done in a grievous or painful way, the source of the modern sense “severely”, as in sérieusement malade.^[2][7][5] Littré still records a sense “coldly”, of a cool reception.^[5]

Timeline

• c. 1380 – First record, in the Aalma glossary.^[2][7]
• 1580 – Montaigne uses it for “gravely, seriously”.^[2]
• 1588 – Montaigne uses it for “without joking”.^[2][8]
• c. 1590 – Montaigne uses it for “with application” and “really”.^[2]
• 1656–1657 – Pascal's Provinciales use it for “grievously”.^[2][7]

Meanings

Adverb

1. Seriously, with thought and care: Elle étudie sérieusement le violon.^[9][10][11]
2. Without joking, in earnest: Tu dis ça sérieusement ? Also used alone as a question: Sérieusement ?^[9][10][11]
3. Really, truly: Nous pensons sérieusement à vendre la maison.^[9][10][11]
4. Severely, gravely: Le joueur a été sérieusement blessé.^[9][10][11]
5. (dated) Coldly, without warmth.^[5]

Related words

• sérieux
• Latin serius

References

1. ^ a b c Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ 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
3. ^ Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
4. ^ Wartburg, Walther von, et al. (1922–2002), Französisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch, 25 vols., Bonn / Leipzig / Basel: Klopp / Teubner / Zbinden, p. 11, 514b
5. ^ a b c d Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
6. ^ Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
7. ^ a b c d e Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
8. ^ a b Quemada, Bernard, ed. (1959–2006), Datations et documents lexicographiques (Base historique du vocabulaire français, BHVF), Paris: Klincksieck / CNRS / Champion; ATILF
9. ^ a b c d Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
10. ^ a b c d Dictionnaire Le Robert en ligne, dictionnaire.lerobert.com (accessed 2024)
11. ^ a b c d Dictionnaire de français Larousse, larousse.fr/dictionnaires/francais (accessed 2024)