verdir

Forms

verdir^[1]

Etymology

It is formed from French vert + -ir, the verb being built on the adjective with the ending of the second conjugation.^[2][1] The Robert dictionaries and the GLLF derive it from Old French verd, the older spelling of the adjective, and Wiktionary notes that the /d/ is the original consonant, the final ⟨t⟩ of the adjective coming from final devoicing.^[3][4][1] The adjective is from Latin viridis (“green”).^[5][6]

Wiktionary allows that the verb may instead continue an unattested spoken-Latin alteration of Latin viridēscō (“to grow green”), and compares Italian inverdire and Romanian înverzi.^[1]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first found about 1180 as the reflexive sei verdir “to turn green” in Jordan Fantosme's Guerre d'Écosse;^[2] the Anglo-Norman Dictionary dates its earliest record to 1174–75, with the senses “to grow green, to flourish”.^[7]

Semantic evolution

The intransitive use “to become green” is found from the end of the 12th century, and Rey dates it to 1226.^[2][8] From the late 17th century the verb also served the crafts and the sciences: a bookbinder's term for colouring the edge of a book with vert-de-gris (Richelet, 1680), and, of copper, “to become covered with verdigris” (Académie, 1694).^[2][8] The transitive “to colour green” is recorded by Furetière in 1690.^[2][4]

Of plants it means to come into leaf, close to verdoyer.^[2][9] With a person as subject it has meant, since Courteline's Boubouroche (1893), “to turn green with fear”.^[2][8]

Timeline

• c. 1180 – Sei verdir “to turn green” appears in Jordan Fantosme.^[2]
• late 12th or early 13th century – Intransitive verdir in the songs attributed to the Châtelain de Coucy.^[2]
• 1680 – Richelet records the bookbinder's sense “to colour the edge of a book with verdigris”.^[2][4]
• 1690 – Furetière records the transitive sense “to make green”.^[2]
• 1694 – The Académie records it of copper covered with verdigris.^[2][8]
• 1893 – Courteline uses it for turning green with fear.^[2][8]

Meanings

Verb

1. (intransitive) To become green, take on a green tint.^[9][2]
2. (intransitive) Of plants, to come into leaf, grow green.^[9][2]
3. (intransitive) Of copper, to become covered with verdigris.^[10][2]
4. (intransitive) Of a person, to turn green with fear.^[9][2]
5. (transitive) To make green, give a green colour to.^[9][4]

Word family

• verdissant
• verdissement
• verdissage

Related words

• vert
• verdure
• verdoyer
• reverdir
• Latin viridis

References

1. ^ a b c d e 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. ^ Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
4. ^ a b c d 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. ^ Wartburg, Walther von, et al. (1922–2002), Französisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch, 25 vols., Bonn / Leipzig / Basel: Klopp / Teubner / Zbinden, p. 14, 510b
7. ^ Anglo-Norman Dictionary (AND2), Aberystwyth University, anglo-norman.net (2nd ed., 2005–)
8. ^ a b c d e Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
9. ^ a b c d e Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
10. ^ Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette