vite French · revision 16351

+ {{infobox|confidence=uncertain|formation=onomatopoeia|attested=c. 1150, Roman de Thèbes (viste)}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /vit/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''vite'''^(Wiktionary)

+ Old French ''viste'' (about 1150), written so until the 16th century, ''vite'' from about 1250.^(DHLF 1992) The Académie wrote ''viste'' in 1694 and 1718, ''vîte'' in 1740 and 1762, and ''vite'' from 1798.^(DHLF 1992)^(TLFi)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The origin is uncertain.^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992)^(Grand Robert 2005) The FEW and Bloch and Wartburg derive it from an expressive stem [[der|fr|vist-]] imitating a sudden, rapid movement, as in Old Italian “visto” and [[it|vispo|t=lively]].^(TLFi)^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)^(FEW|14, 533a)

+

+ An older view, taken up by Pierre Guiraud, derives it from a [[la-vul|*visitus|t=who sees well]], the past participle of [[m|la|vīsō|t=to look at closely]]: a “vite” man would be one who sees clearly in action, Rey finds this plausible in meaning but unsupported, and Wartburg rejected it.^(DHLF 1992)^(Grand Robert 2005)^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989) Littré, too, thought it meant “quick as sight”, like the Norman cry “à la viste”, and also mentions [[la|vegetus|t=lively]], which hardly fits the form.^(Littré 1873)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ About 1150 the ''Roman de Thèbes'' uses ''viste'' of a person, “quick, nimble, skilled”: ''vistes est de chevalerie'' “he is skilled in knighthood”.^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The Old French adjective had several senses linked with skill: agile in combat or on horseback (about 1150), sensible (about 1196), cunning (early 13th century).^(DHLF 1992) Applied to someone who covers much ground in little time (about 1165), and later to a quick action, it remained usual in the 17th century but became rare in the 18th.^(DHLF 1992)^(TLFi)

+

+ The adverb appears in the 16th century, in ''plus viste que le pas'' (about 1530) and alone in 1538; it gradually replaced ''vitement''.^(DHLF 1992)^(Petit Robert 2007) The exclamation ''vite !'' is in Molière (1659), ''au plus vite'' in La Fontaine (1678) and ''aller vite en besogne'' “to be hasty” in 1640.^(TLFi) The adjective was revived in horse racing in 1805, translating English ''fast'', and later in fencing and athletics; in France it is felt as technical, but it is common in Quebec.^(DHLF 1992)^(BHVF)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1150 – ''Viste'' in the ''Roman de Thèbes''.^(TLFi)

+ * c. 1165 – ''Viste a cheval e viste a pié'' in Benoît de Sainte-Maure.^(TLFi)

+ * c. 1250 – The spelling ''vite''.^(DHLF 1992)^(GLLF 1989)

+ * c. 1530 – The adverb, in ''plus viste que le pas''.^(TLFi)

+ * 1538 – ''Qui va vite en besogne'' in Robert Estienne.^(TLFi)

+ * 1659 – ''Vite !'' as an order in Molière.^(TLFi)

+ * 1798 – The Académie adopts the spelling ''vite''.^(TLFi)

+ * 1805 – The adjective is revived in horse racing.^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adverb===

+ # [[m|en|quickly]], fast: ''courir vite''.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Larousse)

+ # In a short time, soon: ''il sera vite guéri''.^(Larousse)^(Le Robert)

+ # Too hastily: ''vous avez parlé trop vite''.^(Larousse)

+ # ''Vite !'': quick!, hurry!, ''au plus vite'': as soon as possible.^(TLFi)^(Larousse)

+ # ''Vite fait'', ''vite fait bien fait'': quickly and without fuss.^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ ===Adjective===

+ # ''(sports, informal)'' [[m|en|fast]], [[m|en|rapid]]: ''le coureur le plus vite''.^(Larousse)^(Petit Robert 2007)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[vitesse]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[vitement]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}