chéri French · revision 16476

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=1669, Bossuet}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ʃe.ʁi/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''chéri''' (feminine chérie, masculine plural chéris, feminine plural chéries)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ Used as an adjective and a noun, it is the past participle [[der|fr|chérir|t=to cherish]].^(TLFi)^(Petit Robert 2007)^(GLLF 1989) “Chérir” is formed on [[cher|t=dear]] with the verb ending “-ir”.^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The participle as an adjective, “beloved”, is first recorded in 1669 in Bossuet's funeral oration for the Queen of England.^(TLFi)^(GLLF 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The verb ''chérir'' meant “to honour, flatter” in Wace (1150) and soon “to love tenderly” (1155).^(TLFi) As a noun, ''chéri'' “beloved person” appears in Béranger (1830–33), and the feminine ''chérie'' was used of a mistress before 1857 (Eugène Sue).^(TLFi)^(GLLF 1989) ''Mon chéri'', ''ma chérie'' became the usual terms of endearment, especially between spouses; the Petit Robert notes ''tu viens, chéri?'' as a prostitute's classic invitation.^(Petit Robert 2007)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1150 – ''Cherir'' “to honour”, Wace.^(TLFi)

+ * 1155 – ''Cherir'' “to love tenderly”.^(TLFi)

+ * 1669 – ''Chéri'' “beloved”, Bossuet.^(TLFi)

+ * 1830–33 – The noun “beloved person”, Béranger.^(TLFi)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Dearly [[m|en|beloved]], [[m|en|cherished]]: ''mes enfants chéris'', ''sa femme chérie''.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Le Robert)

+ # (of things) Particularly [[m|en|treasured]].^(GLLF 1989)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # [[m|en|darling]], dear: a term of endearment (''mon chéri'', ''ma chérie'').^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(familiar)'' A loved one, boyfriend or girlfriend; a favourite child.^(GLLF 1989)^(Petit Robert 2007)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[chérir]]

+ * [[cher]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ An unrelated ''chéri'', the sharia, is borrowed from [[ota|شرع|tr=şerʿ]], from [[ar|شَرْع|tr=šarʕ]].^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}