fleur French · revision 15616

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=c. 1100, Chanson de Roland|origins=la flōs}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /flœʁ/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''fleur''' ''f'' (plural fleurs)^(Wiktionary)

+ Old French ''flur'', ''flor'', ''flour'';^(DHLF 1992) ''fleur'' from the 13th century.^(DHLF 1992)^(Grand Robert 2005)^(GLLF 1989)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|fro|flor]], [[inh|la|flōs|t=flower; the finest part]] (accusative [[m|la|flōrem]]).^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992)^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)^(Wiktionary)^(FEW|3, 630a) The Latin word goes back to [[ine-pro|*bʰleh₃-|t=to bloom]],^(Wiktionary) also seen in [[got|𐌱𐌻𐍉𐌼𐌰|tr=blōma]], [[de|Blume]] and [[en|bloom]].^(DHLF 1992)^(Petit Robert 2007) Why it became feminine in Gallo-Romance is not clear.^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)

+

+ In the phrase “à fleur de”, level with the surface of, the TLFi sees the idea of the topmost or best part, or farming uses such as “fleur de lait”, cream;^(TLFi) Wiktionary connects these senses with a Germanic word for “floor”,^(Wiktionary) which Littré rejected, citing [[it|a fior d'acqua]].^(Littré 1873)^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)

+

+ Cognate with [[it|fiore]], [[ro|floare]], [[oc|flor]] and [[es|flor]].^(Littré 1873)^(REW 1935)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The ''Chanson de Roland'' (about 1100) uses it both for flowers painted on a shield and, figuratively, for the flower of France, its best men.^(TLFi)^(Littré 1873)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Like Latin ''flōs'', it meant the best part of something: ''la fleur de la chevalerie'', ''fine fleur'', ''fleur de farine'' “fine flour” (1121–1134).^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992) It also meant youthful freshness (''à la fleur de l'âge'') and, figuratively, a girl's virginity.^(DHLF 1992)^(Wiktionary) ''À fleur de'' “on the surface of” is from the 14th century: ''à fleur de l'iaue''.^(TLFi)^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)

+

+ The ''fleur de lis'' (12th century) became the emblem of the French kings.^(DHLF 1992)^(GLLF 1989) Familiar phrases include ''être fleur bleue'' “to be sentimental”, ''faire une fleur'' “to do a favour” and ''comme une fleur'' “easily”.^(DHLF 1992)^(Petit Robert 2007) Plural ''fleurs'' “menses” is a different word in origin, [[la-lat|fluor|t=flow]], which merged with it.^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1100 – ''Flor'', ''flur'' in the ''Roland''.^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992)

+ * 1121–1134 – “Fine flour” (Philippe de Thaon).^(TLFi)

+ * 12th century – ''Fleur de lis''.^(DHLF 1992)^(GLLF 1989)

+ * 14th century – ''À fleur de'' “level with”.^(TLFi)^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)

+ * 1580 – ''Fleuret'' “foil”, after Italian.^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)

+ * 1680 – ''Fleuriste''.^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A [[m|en|flower]] or [[m|en|blossom]]; a flowering plant: ''en fleur''.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Wiktionary)

+ # The best part of something: ''la fine fleur''.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''Faire une fleur à quelqu'un'' ''(familiar)'': to do someone a favour.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''À fleur de'': level with the surface of: ''à fleur d'eau'', ''à fleur de peau''.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''Fleur de sel'': fine sea salt from the surface of salt pans.^(Wiktionary)

+ # The grain side of a hide.^(Larousse)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[affleurement]]

+ * [[affleurer]]

+ * [[chou-fleur]]

+ * [[défleurir]]

+ * [[fleurdelisé]]

+ * [[fleurdeliser]]

+ * [[fleurette]]

+ * [[fleuri]]

+ * [[fleurir]]

+ * [[fleuriste]]

+ * [[fleuron]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[effleurer]]

+ * [[efflorescence]]

+ * [[efflorescent]]

+ * [[fleuret]]

+ * [[fleureté]]

+ * [[floraison]]

+ * [[floral]]

+ * [[flore]]

+ * [[inflorescence]]

+ * [[passiflore]]

+ * [[la|flōs]]

+ * [[en|flower]]

+ * [[en|flour]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}