Etymologically
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tromper

Etymology and origin of the French word tromper

History Permalink
Confidence
Probable
Formation
Derivation
First attested
c. 1352–56, Jean le Bel

Pronunciation

  • IPA: /tʁɔ̃.pe/[1]

Forms

tromper[1]

Etymology

It is a figurative use of Old French tromper (“to sound the horn”) (about 1195; 1217 “to announce by trumpet”), derived from trompe (“horn, trumpet”).[2][3][4][1] The transitive sense comes from the old pronominal “se tromper de qqn” “to make fun of someone” (1388), perhaps from playing the horn at someone's expense.[5][3][6] Pierre Guiraud contests this and derives the verb from Latin triumphō (“to triumph”), with a development “to triumph over”, “to mock”, “to deceive”.[5][6] Littré reports Diez's view that it comes from “trompe” “spinning top”, “to make someone spin”.[7] “Trompe” is from Frankish *trumpa, of imitative origin.[1]

Earliest recorded meaning

Jean le Bel (about 1352–56) has se trouver trompé “to find oneself in a tight spot”; in 1388 se tromper de qqn meant to make fun of someone.[2][6]

Semantic evolution

In 1396 it was used transitively for “to mock”, and by 1420 it had its modern sense, to mislead deliberately, Pathelin (about 1456–69) uses it absolutely.[2][5] The derivatives trompeur and tromperie (about 1385) suggest that the verb was in use earlier.[5][3] Reflexive se tromper “to be mistaken” is in Rabelais (1534); si je ne me trompe dates from 1633, and se tromper de “to take the wrong one” from 1812.[2][5] The 16th century added tromper la faim, tromper le temps (1552–58) and of things tromper l'attente (1580); Molière (1665–67) uses it for marital unfaithfulness, and Racine (1672) for eluding a watch.[2][5]

Timeline

  • c. 1195 – Tromper “to sound the horn”, Ambroise.[2]
  • c. 1385 – Tromperie.[3]
  • 1388 – Se tromper de qqn “to make fun of someone”.[2]
  • 1420 – “To deceive”.[2]
  • 1534 – Se tromper “to be mistaken”, Rabelais.[2]
  • 1558 – Tromper le temps.[2]
  • 1667 – “To be unfaithful to”, Molière.[2]
  • 1800 – Trompe-l'œil.[5]
  • 1812 – Se tromper de.[2]

Meanings

Verb

  1. To deceive, mislead; to cheat: tromper un client.[4][1]
  2. To be unfaithful to: tromper sa femme.[1][2]
  3. To elude: tromper la vigilance des gardiens.[7][2]
  4. To stave off, beguile: tromper la faim, tromper l'ennui.[1][5]
  5. Of things, to mislead; to disappoint: tromper l'attente, cela ne trompe pas.[7][8]
  6. Se tromper: to be mistaken, make a mistake, se tromper de, to get the wrong (one): se tromper de route.[1][9]

Word family

  • tromperie
  • trompeur
  • détromper
  • trompe-l'œil
  • trompe-la-mort
  • trompe
  • trompette

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n 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 Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
  4. ^ a b Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
  6. ^ a b c Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
  7. ^ a b c Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
  8. ^ Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
  9. ^ Dictionnaire Le Robert en ligne, dictionnaire.lerobert.com (accessed 2024)
Cite this entry

“Tromper.” Etymologically, 18 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/fr/tromper. Accessed 18 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·