Etymologically
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un

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Pronunciation

  • IPA: /œ̃/[1]
  • IPA: /ɛ̃/[1]
  • IPA: /œ̃.n‿/[1]
  • IPA: /ɛ̃.n‿/[1]

Forms

un m (feminine une, plural des, negative de)[1]

Etymology

It is inherited from Old French un, inherited from Latin ūnus (“one”).[2][3][1] The Latin numeral early took on the value of an indefinite article, already in Plautus and Cicero.[4] In the sense “alone” “ūnus” was replaced by sōlus (whence seul) or strengthened by it.[3][5] It continues Old Latin oinos, from Proto-Italic *oinos, from Proto-Indo-European *h₁óynos;[1] Rey connects it, like Ancient Greek οἴνη (oínē, “the ace on a die”), with an Indo-European root meaning “single, unique”, well represented in Germanic: German ein, English one.[3][5]

Cognate with Romanian unu, Italian uno, Occitan un, Spanish un and Portuguese um.[5][6]

Earliest recorded meaning

The numeral is found in the Passion de Clermont (about 980) for oneness: En huna fet, huna vertet “in one faith, one truth”.[7][8] Rey dates the first use as an indefinite article to the earliest texts.[3]

Semantic evolution

The indefinite article was rare in Old French: it was used only for someone or something not yet mentioned, and was left out whenever the reference was vague.[3] It became the usual indefinite article only from the 17th century.[3] Old French also had a plural uns, unes (1080), used collectively (uns cops “a volley of blows”) or for things that come in pairs (uns gans “a pair of gloves”), until the 15th century.[3][4]

As a pronoun l'un is found in the Chanson de Roland, with autre in li uns… li altre.[3][4] Un “someone” survives in familiar comme un qui… and in pas un “not one” (1559).[3][7] C'est tout un “it's all the same” is found in Rabelais (1532).[7]

Timeline

  • c. 980 – The numeral un in the Passion de Clermont.[7][8]
  • c. 1100 – Un sul mot “a single word” in the Chanson de Roland.[7]
  • 1080 – The plural uns, unes and pronominal l'un.[3]
  • 1532 – Ce m'est tout ung in Rabelais.[7]
  • 1559 – Pas un “none” in Amyot.[7]
  • 17th century – Un becomes the regular indefinite article.[3]

Meanings

Article

  1. a, an: the indefinite article; feminine une, plural des.[1][8]

Numeral

  1. one: the first number, the unit: un franc, vingt et un.[8][1]
  2. One only, single: en un jour.[8]

Pronoun

  1. One (of several): l'un d'eux, l'un… l'autre “the one … the other”.[1][3]
  2. Pas un: not one, none.[7][3]

Noun

  1. The number one, the figure 1.[7]

Word family

  • unième

References

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