aplomb French · revision 16107

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=compound|attested=1547, J. Martin|origins=la plumbum}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /a.plɔ̃/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''aplomb''' ''m'' (plural aplombs)^(Wiktionary)

+ Also written ''à-plomb'' in the late 18th century.^(BHVF)^(Petit Robert 2007)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is the phrase [[à]] [[plomb]] “perpendicularly”, literally “by the plumb line”, written as one word.^(Grand Robert 2005)^(GLLF 1989)^(Littré 1873)^(DHLF 1992) ''Plomb'' “lead” comes from [[la|plumbum]], the metal of the weight at the end of the line.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The phrase ''à plomb'' is old: about the 12th century the ''Roman d'Alixandre'' describes high walls of squared stones ''à plon mis''.^(Littré 1873)^(GLLF 1989) The noun is first recorded in 1547, in J. Martin, for exact verticality, as shown by a plumb line.^(GLLF 1989)^(Grand Robert 2005)^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ By extension it meant the balance of a solid body and, from 1690, of a person or animal standing on its limbs;^(DHLF 1992) ''les aplombs'' of a horse are the set of its legs.^(DHLF 1992)^(Petit Robert 2007) From physical balance the word passed to mental balance (1798) and to self-assurance in speech and manner: the theatre reviews of the 1790s praise actors for their ''à-plomb'', earlier than the date of 1834 given by Rey.^(DHLF 1992)^(BHVF) The pejorative sense, brazen nerve, as in ''vous ne manquez pas d'aplomb'', is now common.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Larousse) The phrase ''d'aplomb'' “vertical; steady” dates from 1762, and in popular use from 1896 it means “in good health”;^(DHLF 1992) Quebec French formed [[raplomber]] “to set right again” (1930).^(Petit Robert 2007)^(DHLF 1992) In dance it is the controlled stability that lets a dancer begin and end a movement precisely.^(Larousse)

+

+ English took [[m|en|aplomb]] in 1828 for self-assurance.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 12th century – ''À plon'' “perpendicular” is used of walls.^(Littré 1873)

+ * 1547 – ''Aplomb'' “verticality” is first recorded.^(GLLF 1989)^(DHLF 1992)

+ * 1690 – Used for the balance of the body.^(DHLF 1992)

+ * 1762 – ''D'aplomb'' “vertically” is recorded.^(Petit Robert 2007)

+ * 1793 – Theatre language praises an actor's ''à-plomb''.^(BHVF)^(Petit Robert 2007)

+ * 1828 – English borrows it for self-assurance.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1930 – Quebec French ''raplomber'' is recorded.^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # [[m|en|vertical|alt=Verticality]], as shown by a [[m|en|plumb line]]; balance of an upright body: ''le mur a perdu son aplomb''.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Larousse)

+ # ''(chiefly plural)'' The way a horse's legs stand in relation to the ground.^(Petit Robert 2007)

+ # Self-[[m|en|assurance]] that nothing disconcerts.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Larousse)

+ # ''(pejorative)'' Brazen [[m|en|nerve]], cheek: ''il a l'aplomb de soutenir le contraire''.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Larousse)

+ # ''(dance)'' Controlled stability at the start and end of a movement.^(Larousse)

+ # ''D'aplomb'': vertical, steady;^(Petit Robert 2007) ''(familiar)'' in good health: ''se sentir d'aplomb''.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Larousse)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[plomb]]

+ * [[surplomber]]

+ * [[la|plumbum]]

+ * [[en|aplomb]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}