rapide French · revision 15835

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=before 1502, Octovien de Saint-Gelais|origins=la rapiō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ʁa.pid/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''rapide''' (plural rapides)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|la|rapidus|t=sweeping along; swift, impetuous]],^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992)^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)^(FEW|10, 66b) from [[m|la|rapiō|t=to seize, carry off]], the source of [[ravir]].^(DHLF 1992)^(Petit Robert 2007) It displaced the inherited Old and Middle French [[m|fro|rade|t=swift; strong]] (about 1170, Judaeo-French “rabdes” “torrential waters”, late 11th century), which survives in dialects of the north-east.^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992)^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Octovien de Saint-Gelais's translation of the ''Aeneid'' (before 1502) uses it for “moving with speed”.^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In the 17th century it was applied to a river with a strong current (1640), to an impatient temper (Racine, 1670), to a concise style (Boileau, 1674) and to a quick action (1690).^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992)^(GLLF 1989) Of time it means “passing quickly” (Bossuet, 1687), and of slopes “steep” (Buffon, 1749).^(TLFi) From 1781 it qualified a quick mind.^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ As a noun, ''les rapides'' are the stretches of fast water in a river (1736), a word more familiar in Quebec than in Europe,^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992) and ''un rapide'' was a fast train (1870), a use now dated.^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992) Technical uses include ''ciment rapide'' (1926) and ''acier rapide'' (1927).^(TLFi) The adverb ''rapidement'' (1611) replaced ''radement''.^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1170 – Old French ''rade'' in Chrétien de Troyes.^(TLFi)

+ * Before 1502 – ''Rapide'' in Saint-Gelais.^(TLFi)

+ * 1573 – ''Rapidité''.^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)

+ * 1640 – Of a river.^(DHLF 1992)

+ * 1674 – Of style, in Boileau.^(TLFi)

+ * 1736 – ''Rapides'' “rapids”.^(TLFi)

+ * 1870 – ''Rapide'' “fast train”.^(TLFi)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # [[m|en|fast|alt=Fast]], [[m|en|quick]], rapid: ''un coureur rapide'', ''une voiture rapide''.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Le Robert)

+ # Done or happening quickly: ''une décision rapide''.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(GLLF 1989)

+ # Of a river, swift-flowing; of a slope, steep.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Le Robert)

+ # Quick-witted; of style, brisk, concise.^(DHLF 1992)^(GLLF 1989)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # ''(often plural)'' [[m|en|rapids|alt=Rapids]] in a river.^(Larousse)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(dated)'' A fast train, an [[m|en|express]].^(Wiktionary)^(TLFi)

+ # A quick person.^(Larousse)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[rapidement]]

+ * [[rapidité]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[ravir]]

+ * [[rapace]]

+ * [[rapt]]

+ * [[la|rapidus]]

+ * [[en|rapid]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}