alors French · revision 16253

+ {{infobox|confidence=probable|formation=compound|attested=c. 1250|origins=la hōra}}

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+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /a.lɔʁ/^(Wiktionary)

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+ ==Forms==

+ '''alors'''^(Wiktionary)

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+ ==Etymology==

+ It is formed [[af|fro|a|lors|t1=at|t2=then]], an expressive strengthening of the adverb [[lors]] “then” with the preposition [[à]].^(DHLF 1992)^(Grand Robert 2005)^(Petit Robert 2007) Rey prefers this explanation, supported by the parallels “adonc” (“a” + “donc”) and Old French “ilors”, to a direct derivation from a Latin phrase “*ad illam horam” “at that hour”, since Latin has only “ad horam”.^(DHLF 1992) “Lors”, first “lur” (1080) and “lores” (1119), comes from Late Latin [[m|la-lat|illā hōrā|t=at that hour]], the ablative of time of [[m|la|hōra|t=hour]], with an adverbial “-s”.^(DHLF 1992)^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989) Littré analysed “alors” as “à” with “ors”, “ores” “now”.^(Littré 1873)

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+ Compare [[it|allora]], [[es|alora]], [[oc|alara]] and [[ca|aleshores]].^(Wiktionary)^(Littré 1873)

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+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Rey dates the compound to the 12th century; the Petit Robert and Bloch and Wartburg give 1250, and the Grand Larousse the middle of the 13th century.^(DHLF 1992)^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)^(GLLF 1989) It first had a temporal value, “at that moment”, of an action in progress.^(DHLF 1992)

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+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ ''Alors'' was rare until the 15th century, then spread at the expense of ''lors'', which since the 17th century has survived only in ''lors de'', ''dès lors'', ''depuis lors'' and [[lorsque]].^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)^(DHLF 1992) It came to refer to the past (13th century) and to a period, “at that time, in those days” (about 1225).^(DHLF 1992) ''Alors comme alors'' “we'll see when the time comes” is found about 1460.^(DHLF 1992) From the sense of time came that of consequence, “in that case, so”, and its use to ask for what follows (''et alors ?'') or to open a conversation (''alors, ça va ?'').^(GLLF 1989)^(Petit Robert 2007)

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+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1080 – ''Lur'', the ancestor of ''lors''.^(DHLF 1992)

+ * c. 1225 – “At that time, in those days”.^(DHLF 1992)

+ * c. 1250 – ''Alors''.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)

+ * c. 1460 – ''Alors comme alors''.^(DHLF 1992)

+ * 15th century – ''Alors'' spreads at the expense of ''lors''.^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)^(DHLF 1992)

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+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adverb===

+ # [[m|en|then]], at that time: ''il comprit alors son erreur'', ''d'alors'', of that time, ''jusqu'alors'', until then.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(GLLF 1989)

+ # So, in that case: marks a consequence: ''il n'y a pas de bus, alors je viens à pied''.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''Alors que'': while, whereas; when.^(Grand Robert 2005)^(Petit Robert 2007)

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+ ===Interjection===

+ # Well, so: to open a conversation, ask for more or show impatience: ''alors, ça va ?'', ''et alors ?''.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Wiktionary)

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+ ==Related words==

+ * [[lors]]

+ * [[lorsque]]

+ * [[heure]]

+ * [[or]]

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+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}