percer French · revision 15949

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

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /pɛʁ.se/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''percer'''^(Wiktionary)

+ [[fro|percier]], Picard ''percher''.^(Grand Robert 2005)^(Littré 1873)^(AND)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|fro|percier]], [[inh|la-vul|*pertūsiō|alt=*pertūsiāre|t=to bore through]],^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992)^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)^(FEW|8, 285a) formed on “pertusum”, the supine of classical [[la|pertundō|t=to bore through]], from [[m|la|per|t=through]] and [[m|la|tundō|t=to strike, beat]] (see [[contusion]]).^(DHLF 1992)^(GLLF 1989) The old stressed forms such as “pertuise” gave Old French [[m|fro|pertuisier]], usual until the 16th century, whence [[pertuis]].^(DHLF 1992)^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989) Littré doubted the contraction of “pertuisier” to “percier” assumed by Ménage, Diez and Burguy.^(Littré 1873)

+

+ The word exists only in French and in a few Italian dialects; compare [[it|pertugiare]].^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Wiktionary) The Anglo-Norman “percer” corresponds to [[en|pierce]].^(AND)^(Littré 1873)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The ''Chanson de Roland'' (about 1100) has ''Ma hanste est fraite, et percet mon escut'', my lance is broken and my shield pierced: to go through something by making a hole.^(TLFi)^(Littré 1873)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In Old French it meant to wound with a pointed weapon (about 1112), and figuratively ''percer le cœur'' (1262);^(DHLF 1992)^(TLFi) ''percier le tonnel'' (1262) is to broach a cask.^(TLFi) About 1230 it meant to force a way through (''percier les rens''), and in the 14th century to see through, a sense that survives in ''perçant'' (1342).^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992) The cold and rain ''percent'' from 1557 and 1606.^(TLFi)

+

+ From the 16th century the intransitive ''percer'' meant to break through, to show (1572, Amyot), and in the 17th century to pierce the ears for rings (1651), to lance an abscess (1665) and to fathom a mystery (Boileau, 1666).^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992) Teeth ''percent'' from 1680, and, from 1756 (Voltaire) a person ''perce'' by rising from obscurity to fame.^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992) Derivatives include ''perce-neige'' (1660), ''perce-oreille'' (1530) and ''perceuse'' (1894).^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1100 – ''Percier'' in the ''Chanson de Roland''.^(TLFi)

+ * c. 1230 – “To force a way through”.^(TLFi)

+ * 1262 – ''Percier le tonnel''; figurative use.^(TLFi)

+ * 1342 – ''Perçant''.^(TLFi)

+ * 1530 – ''Perce-oreille''.^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)

+ * 1651 – Piercing the ears.^(DHLF 1992)

+ * 1660 – ''Perce-neige''.^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)

+ * 1666 – “To fathom”, in Boileau.^(TLFi)

+ * 1680 – Of teeth.^(TLFi)

+ * 1756 – “To make one's name”, in Voltaire.^(TLFi)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To [[m|en|pierce]], drill, bore (a hole): ''percer un mur'', ''percer un trou'', ''se faire percer les oreilles''.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To break through: ''percer les lignes ennemies'', ''le soleil perce les nuages''.^(TLFi)^(Petit Robert 2007)

+ # To make (an opening): ''percer une fenêtre'', ''percer un tunnel''.^(Littré 1873)^(Petit Robert 2007)

+ # To see through, fathom: ''percer un mystère'', ''percer à jour''.^(DHLF 1992)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(intransitive)'' To come through, show: ''ses dents percent'', ''le jour perce''.^(TLFi)^(Larousse)

+ # ''(intransitive)'' To make a name for oneself: ''un jeune chanteur qui commence à percer''.^(Wiktionary)^(TLFi)

+ # ''(literary)'' To wound, run through: ''percer de coups''.^(Le Robert)^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[perce-neige]]

+ * [[perce-oreille]]

+ * [[perceuse]]

+ * [[transpercer]]

+ * [[perce]]

+ * [[percée]]

+ * [[percement]]

+ * [[perçoir]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[pertuis]]

+ * [[contusion]]

+ * [[la|pertundō]]

+ * [[en|pierce]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}