sente

Forms

sente f (plural sentes)^[1]

Etymology

It is inherited from Latin sēmita (“narrow path, byway, pavement, lane”).^{[2][3][4][5][1]} The origin of the Latin word is not clear.^[3] Littré wondered whether it had come into Latin from a Semitic language.^[6]

The derivative sentier continues Vulgar Latin *sēmitārius, from the Classical Latin adjective sēmitārius (“keeping to the lanes”).^[4][3]

Cognate with Spanish senda.^[4][6]

Earliest recorded meaning

The TLFi's first record is in Wace's Roman de Rou (1160–1174), with the sense “narrow path”;^[2] Rey and the GLLF date Wace's use to about 1155.^[3][7] Littré quotes it from the 12th-century Livres des Rois: Achimas s'en turnad, e curut par sentes, “Ahimaaz turned away and ran along the paths”.^[6]

Semantic evolution

The word has kept the Latin meaning “small path”, but it lost ground to sentier, which is more general and has stayed in everyday use.^[3][4] In Anglo-Norman it could also mean a way of life or a course of action, an orbit and a sea current.^[8] Raymond called sente old in 1832, Littré a popular word and Darmesteter's dictionary a dialect word;^[2] it is still well used in northern France.^[2][4] Today it is regional or literary, and in poetry it often competes with sentier.^[2][3][9]

Timeline

• 12th century – Sentes in the Livres des Rois.^[6]
• 1160–1174 – Wace uses it in the Roman de Rou.^[2]
• 13th century – Par une petitete sente in the Roman de la Rose.^[6]
• 1832 – Raymond's dictionary calls it old.^[2]
• 1873 – Littré gives it as a popular synonym of sentier.^[6]

Meanings

Noun

1. (regional, literary) A narrow path, a footpath or track: Ils prirent une sente à travers les prés.^[2][9][7]

Related words

• sentier
• Latin sēmita

References

1. ^ a b c Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h 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 Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
4. ^ a b c d e 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. ^ a b c d e f Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
7. ^ a b Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
8. ^ Anglo-Norman Dictionary (AND2), Aberystwyth University, anglo-norman.net (2nd ed., 2005–)
9. ^ a b Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert