épice French · revision 15673

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1140, Pèlerinage de Charlemagne (espices)|origins=la speciō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /e.pis/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''épice''' ''f'' (plural épices)^(Wiktionary)

+ Old French ''espice'', ''espiece''^(DHLF 1992)^(GLLF 1989); ''épice'' from the 17th century.^(DHLF 1992)^(GLLF 1989)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is, by early borrowing, [[bor|la|speciēs|t=sight; appearance; kind]],^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992)^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)^(Grand Robert 2005)^(Wiktionary)^(FEW|12, 153b) which in Late Latin meant goods classified by kind, hence foodstuffs, spices and drugs.^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992)^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989) “Species” comes from [[m|la|speciō|t=to look at]],^(DHLF 1992) and in philosophical Latin translated Greek [[grc|εἶδος|tr=eîdos]], whence [[espèce]], a doublet.^(DHLF 1992)^(Wiktionary) Littré compares [[it|speziale|t=apothecary]].^(Littré 1873)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The ''Pèlerinage de Charlemagne'' (about 1140) has ''espices'', aromatic substances.^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ ''Épice'' also meant an oriental drug (about 1175) and sweetmeats served after a meal (1245).^(DHLF 1992)^(TLFi) Judges received gifts of sweets and spices, ''les épices'', which became a regular fee (before 1454; edict of Louis XII, 1512).^(TLFi)^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)

+

+ Phrases include ''pain d'épice(s)'' (1372, ''pain d'espessez''), and ''quatre-épices'' (1723), a mixture of cloves, nutmeg, pepper and cinnamon or ginger.^(DHLF 1992)^(GLLF 1989) The ''épicier'' (13th century) sold spices and exotic goods until the 19th century, when he became a grocer;^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989) ''épicer'' “to spice” is from the 16th century.^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1140 – ''Espices'' (''Pèlerinage de Charlemagne'').^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992)

+ * 1245 – Sweetmeats (''Roman de la Rose'').^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992)

+ * 1248 – ''Épicerie''.^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)

+ * 1372 – ''Pain d'espessez''.^(GLLF 1989)^(DHLF 1992)

+ * before 1454 – Fees paid to judges.^(TLFi)

+ * 1723 – ''Quatre-épices''.^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A [[m|en|spice]].^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''Pain d'épice(s)'': [[m|en|gingerbread]].^(GLLF 1989)^(DHLF 1992)

+ # ''(historical, plural)'' Fees paid to judges.^(TLFi)^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[épicer]]

+ * [[épicier]]

+ * [[épicerie]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[espèce]]

+ * [[la|speciēs]]

+ * [[en|spice]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}