virer French · revision 15910

+ {{infobox|confidence=probable|formation=inherited|attested=1155, Wace|origins=la vibrō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /vi.ʁe/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''virer'''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is probably [[inh|la-vul|*virō|alt=*virāre]], an alteration of classical [[la|vibrō|alt=vibrāre|t=to shake, brandish, hurl]] with the labials dissimilated,^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992)^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)^(FEW|14, 384a) the short “i” made long under the influence of [[la|lībrō|alt=lībrāre|t=to balance; to hurl by swinging]].^(TLFi)^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)^(DHLF 1992) The learned [[vibrer]] is a doublet.^(Wiktionary)

+

+ Diez derived it instead from [[la|viriae|t=bracelets]] (compare [[virole]]), an idea revived by P. Guiraud from dialect words such as “vire” “ferrule”;^(DHLF 1992)^(Littré 1873)^(Grand Robert 2005) Meyer-Lübke and Wartburg reject it on the evidence of Italian dialect forms.^(DHLF 1992) Wiktionary also mentions [[la|gȳrō|t=to turn]] and a Gaulish source.^(Wiktionary)

+

+ Cognate with [[it|virare]], [[pro|virar]], [[ca|virar]], [[es|virar]] and [[pt|virar]].^(Petit Robert 2007)^(REW 1935) [[en|veer]] (1580s) comes from “virer”.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Wace's ''Brut'' (1155) has it in the sense “to turn”;^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992) about 1196 Jean Bodel uses it of hurling a spear with a swing (''espiel li vire'').^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ From “to turn” came “to change” (1223, Gautier de Coinci, ''virer le bien en mal''), and, from about 1433 the intransitive “to turn round”, as in ''tourner et virer''.^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992) The word became a sailing term: ''virer de bord'' (1694), used figuratively for changing sides (1798), ''virer au cabestan'' and ''virer le cap'' (1690).^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992) From ships it passed to cyclists (1892) and motorists turning a bend, whence ''virage''.^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ ''Virer partie'' “to pay by transfer” is recorded in 1636, and ''virer'' a sum to an account in the 20th century, after ''virement''.^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992) Since 1763 it has described a colour changing (''virer au violet'', 1818), and in photography it means to tone a print (1856–1857).^(DHLF 1992)^(TLFi) The familiar ''virer qqn'' “to throw out, sack” is from about 1913–1931, perhaps from ''vire de bord !'' “clear off!” or from a dialect sense “to drive (cattle) by turning them”.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(TLFi) In Quebec ''virer'' keeps the plain sense “to turn” (''virer une crêpe'') and is used for “to become” (''virer fou'').^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1155 – “To turn” in Wace.^(TLFi)

+ * c. 1196 – “To hurl with a swing”, in Jean Bodel.^(DHLF 1992)

+ * 1223 – “To change”, in Gautier de Coinci.^(TLFi)

+ * c. 1433 – “To turn round”.^(TLFi)

+ * 1580s – English ''veer''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1636 – ''Virer partie'' “to pay by transfer”.^(TLFi)

+ * 1694 – ''Virer de bord''.^(TLFi)

+ * 1892 – Of a cyclist, “to take a bend”.^(TLFi)

+ * 1931 – ''Virer qqn'' “to sack”.^(TLFi)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To turn, [[m|en|veer]], change direction: ''virer à droite'', ''virer de bord'': to go about; to change sides.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To turn round, spin.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Le Robert)

+ # ''Virer à'': to turn into, become: ''virer au rouge'', ''virer à l'aigre''.^(Wiktionary)^(DHLF 1992)

+ # ''(nautical)'' To heave (a capstan, a cable).^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Le Robert)

+ # To [[m|en|transfer]] (money): ''virer une somme sur un compte''.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(photography)'' To tone (a print).^(Petit Robert 2007)

+ # ''(familiar)'' To throw out, [[m|en|fire]]; to get rid of: ''se faire virer''.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[virage]]

+ * [[virement]]

+ * [[environ]]

+ * [[revirer]]

+ * [[virée]]

+ * [[virevolter]]

+ * [[revirement]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[environs]]

+ * [[chavirer]]

+ * [[vibrer]]

+ * [[virole]]

+ * [[la|vibrō]]

+ * [[en|veer]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}