bon French · revision 16259

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=881, Sequence of Saint Eulalia|origins=la bonus}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /bɔ̃/^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA: /bɔ.n‿/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''bon''' (feminine bonne, masculine plural bons, feminine plural bonnes, comparative meilleur, superlative le meilleur)^(Wiktionary)

+ Old French [[m|fro|buon]] (881), [[m|fro|boen]], [[m|fro|buen]] and ''bon''.^(DHLF 1992) ''Bon'', the form developed in unstressed position, won because the adjective usually stood before the noun.^(DHLF 1992)^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|fro|bon]], [[inh|la|bonus|t=good; fitting; brave]].^(DHLF 1992)^(FEW|1, 433b)^(Grand Robert 2005)^(Wiktionary) The Latin word was used in formulas of politeness and, familiarly, for “great” (“bona pars” “a good part”); it was opposed to [[m|la|malus]] and closely linked to its derivatives [[m|la|bene]] (whence [[bien]]) and [[m|la|bellus]] (whence [[beau]]).^(DHLF 1992)^(Petit Robert 2007) It goes back to Old Latin [[m|la|duenos]], “duonus”, from “*dwenos”.^(DHLF 1992)^(Wiktionary) Rey compares its stem with Vedic “dúvaḥ” “homage”, which would point to an old religious use, as in “di boni” “kind gods”.^(DHLF 1992)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ Cognate with [[ro|bun]], [[it|buono]], [[oc|bon]], [[es|bueno]] and [[pt|bom]].^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Littré 1873)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The ''Sequence of Saint Eulalia'' (881) has ''Buona pulcella fut Eulalia'' “Eulalia was a good maiden”, of a person with the qualities proper to her nature and station, “true, virtuous”.^(DHLF 1992)^(TLFi)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The oldest uses come under the idea of fitness: ''bon'' described a being with the qualities thought proper to its nature, sex, rank or function according to the culture of the time.^(DHLF 1992) It was applied to things from the 11th century.^(Grand Robert 2005) Many senses developed: “efficient, suited to its purpose” (''la bonne clé''), “useful”, “profitable” (''une bonne affaire''), “kind” and, familiarly, “great, strong” (''une bonne grippe'').^(GLLF 1989)

+

+ As a noun ''un bon'' is a written note entitling the holder to a payment or service, from about 1700 (Saint-Simon), and ''bonne'' “maidservant” dates from 1708.^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)^(Grand Robert 2005) ''Bonbon'' (1604) is a children's doubling, and ''boniment'' (1837) comes through a slang verb ''bonir'' “to talk”.^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989) ''Bon !'' as an interjection marks agreement or a conclusion.^(Grand Robert 2005)^(Petit Robert 2007)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 881 – ''Buona'' in the ''Sequence of Saint Eulalia''.^(DHLF 1992)

+ * 11th century – ''Bon'' of things.^(Grand Robert 2005)

+ * 1604 – ''Bonbon''.^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)

+ * c. 1700 – ''Un bon'', a voucher, in Saint-Simon.^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)^(Grand Robert 2005)

+ * 1708 – ''Bonne'' “maidservant”.^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)

+ * 1837 – ''Boniment''.^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # [[m|en|good]]: having the qualities proper to its kind: ''un bon ouvrier'', ''un bon vin''.^(GLLF 1989)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Right, correct, suitable: ''la bonne clé'', ''le bon chemin''.^(GLLF 1989)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Good, useful, profitable: ''une bonne affaire'', ''bon pour la santé''.^(GLLF 1989)

+ # Kind, generous: ''un homme bon''.^(Wiktionary)^(DHLF 1992)

+ # ''(familiar)'' Big, strong: ''une bonne grippe'', ''un bon coup''.^(GLLF 1989)

+ # ''(slang, derogatory)'' Sexy, of a woman.^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # ''Le bon'': what is good, ''avoir du bon'', to have its advantages.^(Petit Robert 2007)

+ # A [[m|en|voucher]], a coupon: ''bon d'achat'', ''bon du Trésor''.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ===Interjection===

+ # Good, well, all right: ''bon, on y va''.^(Grand Robert 2005)^(Petit Robert 2007)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[bonbon]]

+ * [[bonjour]]

+ * [[bonne]]

+ * [[bonhomme]]

+ * [[boniment]]

+ * [[bonifier]]

+ * [[abonnir]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[bien]]

+ * [[bonté]]

+ * [[beau]]

+ * [[la|bonus]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}