suggérer

Forms

suggérer^[1] Middle French suggerir (about 1380).^[2][3][4]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Latin suggerō (“to put under, supply, prompt”).^{[2][3][5][6][7]} The first form suggerir (about 1380) was refashioned in 1403.^[3][6] The Latin verb meant “to bring up, provide, supply” and then “to submit, propose”; in Late Latin also “to make known”.^[2][3] It is formed from sub- (“under”) and gerō (“to carry”), a verb with no counterpart outside Latin.^[3][8][4] The modern pronunciation of the verb dates from the 17th century.^[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first found as suggerir in the Aalma glossary (about 1380), meaning “to inspire by counsel, to submit”.^[2][3]

Semantic evolution

By the mid-15th century, in the Internelle consolacion, it meant to plant an idea in someone's mind by insinuation.^[2][3] From 1590 (Montaigne) it could have a thing as its subject.^[2][3] In the classical period it also meant to remind someone of something (1636), and in law suggérer un testament was to bring about a will by artifice or insinuation (1690); in the 16th century a few writers used the Latin sense “to supply, provide” (1552).^[3][2]

From the early 19th century the subject could be what calls up an idea or image, whence “to evoke” (1866, Amiel), now the most common use.^[3][2] In the vocabulary of hypnotism it came to mean to make someone think or do something by suggestion, after suggestion.^[3][4]

Timeline

• c. 1380 – Suggerir in the Aalma glossary.^[2][4]
• 1403 – The form suggérer.^[3][6][4]
• mid-15th century – “To plant in the mind by insinuation”, in the Internelle consolacion.^[2]
• 1552 – The Latin sense “to supply”.^[3]
• 1590 – Montaigne uses it with a thing as subject.^[2][3]
• before 1633 – Testament suggéré.^[2]
• 1866 – Amiel uses it absolutely, “to be evocative”.^[2][3]
• 1870 – Taine uses it in psychology.^[2]

Meanings

Verb

1. To make someone think of something without stating it outright; to insinuate, inspire.^[9][2]
2. To put forward as advice or a proposal; to suggest: Je lui ai suggéré de prendre le train.^[9][2]
3. (of a thing) To call up an idea, feeling or image; to evoke: Ce paysage suggère la mélancolie.^[9][3]
4. (absolute) To be evocative, to hint rather than state.^[9][2]
5. (psychology) To make someone think or do something by suggestion, as under hypnosis.^[9][4]
6. (law, dated) Suggérer un testament: to bring about a will by artifice or insinuation.^[8][3]

Related words

• suggestion
• gérer
• Latin suggerō

Usage notes

The second é becomes è before a mute syllable (je suggère), except in the future and conditional, by Littré's rule.^[8]

References

1. ^ a b Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q 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 g h i j k l m n o p q r Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
4. ^ a b c d e f Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
5. ^ Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
6. ^ a b c Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
7. ^ Wartburg, Walther von, et al. (1922–2002), Französisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch, 25 vols., Bonn / Leipzig / Basel: Klopp / Teubner / Zbinden, p. 12, 417a
8. ^ a b c Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
9. ^ a b c d e Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert