calme French · revision 16480

+ {{infobox|confidence=probable|formation=borrowing|attested=1418, Caumont, Voyage d'outremer|origins=grc καῦμα}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /kalm/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''calme''' (plural calmes)^(Wiktionary)

+ The adjective was first ''carme'' (late 15th century, in Picard and in ''Perceforest'').^(DHLF 1992)^(Grand Robert 2005)^(Littré 1873)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The noun “calme” is from [[grc|καῦμα|tr=kaûma|t=burning heat]], from [[m|grc|καίω|tr=kaíō|t=to burn]], through a Romance language.^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992)^(FEW|2, 539b) Bloch and Wartburg, the FEW and Meyer-Lübke take it from [[it|calma]]; the TLFi and Rey prefer an Iberian language, probably [[ca|calma]], because the Italian word never meant “great heat”, while [[es|calma]], [[pt|calma]] and Catalan have both senses.^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992)^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)^(REW 1935) The sense would have passed from the heat of the day to the stillness of the sea in very hot weather.^(Grand Robert 2005)^(Petit Robert 2007) Bloch and Wartburg explain the ⟨al⟩ by a borrowing made after Greek /au/ had become /o/.^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)

+

+ The adjective is probably the noun used as an adjective, as in the other Romance languages; the GLLF takes it from [[m|it|calmo]].^(DHLF 1992)^(Grand Robert 2005)^(GLLF 1989)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The noun is first found in 1418 as a sailors' term for a complete absence of wind, in Caumont's ''Voyage d'outremer''.^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992) The adjective, as ''carme'', described the sea and the weather at sea: in ''Perceforest'' the sea between Britain and Ireland ''n'est point paisible ne carme''.^(DHLF 1992)^(Littré 1873)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ ''Calme plat'' “dead calm” (1704) passed from the sea into general use.^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992) From 1671 the noun meant absence of mental or social disturbance, and of noise or movement.^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992) The adjective was extended from the sea to people and their state of mind in 1601, and in the stock market ''les affaires sont calmes'' means little business is being done.^(DHLF 1992)^(Littré 1873) Slang ''calmos'' (1972) means “calm, take it easy”.^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1418 – ''Calme'' “absence of wind”, Caumont.^(TLFi)

+ * Late 15th century – The adjective ''carme''.^(DHLF 1992)^(Grand Robert 2005)

+ * 1585 – The form ''calme'' as an adjective.^(DHLF 1992)^(Grand Robert 2005)

+ * 1601 – Of a person's state of mind.^(DHLF 1992)

+ * 1671 – The noun “tranquillity”.^(TLFi)

+ * 1704 – ''Calme plat'', in Trévoux.^(TLFi)

+ * 1972 – ''Calmos''.^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # [[m|en|calm]], still, untroubled: ''une mer calme'', ''une nuit calme''.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Larousse)

+ # Quiet, [[m|en|peaceful]]: ''une rue calme''.^(Larousse)^(Wiktionary)

+ # (of a person) Composed, self-controlled, (of a patient) no longer agitated.^(Larousse)^(Petit Robert 2007)

+ # Lacking activity: ''les affaires sont calmes''.^(Littré 1873)^(GLLF 1989)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # Stillness of the air and sea, ''calme plat'', dead calm.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(TLFi)

+ # Quiet, absence of noise or agitation; [[m|en|composure]]: ''garder son calme''.^(Le Robert)^(Petit Robert 2007)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[calmer]]

+ * [[calmement]]

+ * [[calmant]]

+ * [[accalmie]]

+ * [[calmos]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[chômer]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}