terrain French · revision 16089

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=1155, Wace|origins=la terra}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /tɛ.ʁɛ̃/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''terrain''' ''m'' (plural terrains)^(Wiktionary)

+ ''Terrein'', ''terrain'' (1155); in the 17th century Vaugelas, Richelet and the Académie tried to restore ''terrein'', which Littré still preferred, in vain.^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|la-vul|*terrānum]], with a change of suffix from [[la|terrēnum|t=ground, soil]], the neuter used as a noun of “terrēnus” “of earth”, from [[la|terra|t=earth]] (see [[terre]]).^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992)^(Grand Robert 2005)^(FEW|13/1, 260b) Compare [[it|terreno]], [[es|terreno]] and [[pro|terren]], Catalan “terreny” is from French.^(DHLF 1992)^(REW 1935)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Wace's ''Brut'' (1155) has ''terrein'' for dry land as opposed to the sand of the shore, a sense taken over by ''terre'', and ''terrain'' for the ground where a battle is fought.^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992)^(AND)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ From the battlefield come ''gagner du terrain'' (1646), ''perdre (du) terrain'' (1654; about 1770, Rousseau) and ''aller sur le terrain'' for a duel (1846).^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992)^(BHVF) Old and Middle French also used it as an adjective, “earthly” as opposed to heavenly or spiritual, a role later taken by ''terrestre''.^(DHLF 1992) From the 17th century it was the ground considered for its nature (1669–1671) and a riding track (1678), whence ''tâter le terrain'', said of a horse (1690) and soon figuratively (1691).^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ Figuratively it meant the conditions of an activity (Sorel, 1671, ''connaître le terrain'', 1676, ''terrain d'entente''), and, from 1828–1835 a geological formation.^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992) Later uses include ''terrain vague'' (Chateaubriand, 1811), sports grounds (1901), the landing field (1918) and ''sur le terrain'', in the field.^(GLLF 1989)^(TLFi)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1155 – ''Terrein'' in Wace.^(TLFi)

+ * 1646 – ''Gagner du terrain''.^(TLFi)

+ * 1669 – The nature of the soil.^(DHLF 1992)

+ * 1678 – A riding track.^(TLFi)

+ * 1691 – ''Tâter le terrain'' figuratively.^(DHLF 1992)

+ * 1811 – ''Terrain vague''.^(GLLF 1989)

+ * 1835 – In geology.^(TLFi)

+ * 1846 – ''Aller sur le terrain''.^(TLFi)

+ * 1901 – A sports ground.^(TLFi)

+ * 1918 – ''Terrain d'atterrissage''.^(TLFi)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # Ground, [[m|en|terrain]], land: ''terrain accidenté'', ''glissement de terrain'', ''tout terrain'': all-terrain.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A plot of land: ''acheter un terrain'', ''terrain à bâtir'', ''terrain vague'': waste ground.^(Wiktionary)^(Larousse)

+ # A ground, field: ''terrain de football'', ''terrain de camping''.^(Wiktionary)^(Larousse)

+ # ''(figurative)'' Ground, field: ''sur le terrain'', ''terrain d'entente'', ''tâter le terrain'', ''gagner, perdre du terrain''.^(Wiktionary)^(TLFi)

+ # ''(geology)'' A formation: ''terrains crétacés''.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(TLFi)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[terre]]

+ * [[terrestre]]

+ * [[terroir]]

+ * [[la|terra]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}