preux French · revision 15696

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

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /pʁø/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''preux''' (feminine preuse, masculine plural preux, feminine plural preuses)^(Wiktionary)

+ Old French ''proz'', ''pros'', ''pruz'', ''preuz'' (nominative), ''prou'', ''preu'' (oblique); ''preux'' from about 1382.^(DHLF 1992)^(Grand Robert 2005)^(GLLF 1989)^(Littré 1873)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|fro|proz]], [[inh|la-lat|*prōdis]],^(DHLF 1992)^(GLLF 1989)^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)^(FEW|9, 418b) an adjective formed on Late Latin [[m|la-lat|prōde|t=useful, profitable]], attested from the 4th century in “prode est”, a wrong division of [[m|la|prōdest|t=it is useful]], third person of [[la|prōsum|t=to be useful]], made on the model of “pote est” beside “potest”.^(DHLF 1992)^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)^(Grand Robert 2005)^(Académie 9) The neuter [[m|la-lat|prōde]] also gave Old French [[m|fro|preu|t=profit]], surviving in [[prou]].^(DHLF 1992)^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ Compare [[pro|pros]] and [[it|prode]].^(DHLF 1992)^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The ''Chanson de Roland'' (about 1100) has the famous line “Rollant est proz e Oliver est sage”, Roland is brave and Oliver is wise.^(TLFi)^(Littré 1873)^(Petit Robert 2007)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The original idea of usefulness underlies all its uses:^(DHLF 1992) of things it meant good, of good quality,^(DHLF 1992)^(Littré 1873) and of people it specialised in the language of chivalry as “valiant”, synonymous with ''vaillant''.^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992) As a noun ''un preux'' is a hero of chivalry; the ''Neuf Preux'', the Nine Worthies, appear about 1382.^(TLFi)^(GLLF 1989)

+

+ The word is now literary or archaic, used of medieval knights.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(GLLF 1989) Derivatives are ''prouesse'' (about 1080) and the compound [[prud'homme]] “wise and loyal man”, later a member of an industrial tribunal (1806), whence [[prude]].^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 4th century – Late Latin ''prode est''.^(DHLF 1992)^(GLLF 1989)

+ * c. 1080 – ''Prouesse''.^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)

+ * c. 1100 – ''Proz'' (''Roland'').^(TLFi)^(GLLF 1989)

+ * c. 1175 – ''Preu'' (Chrétien de Troyes).^(GLLF 1989)

+ * c. 1382 – ''Preux''; the Nine Worthies.^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # ''(literary)'' [[m|en|valiant|alt=Valiant]], [[m|en|doughty]]: ''un preux chevalier''.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # A valiant knight of the Middle Ages: ''Charlemagne et ses preux''.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(GLLF 1989)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[prouesse]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[prou]]

+ * [[prude]]

+ * [[prud'homme]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}