serrer French · revision 16497

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=late 11th century, Chanson de Guillaume|origins=la sera}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /sɛ.ʁe/^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA: /se.ʁe/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''serrer'''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|la-vul|*serrō]], an alteration of [[m|la-lat|serō|t=to bar, bolt]], from [[m|la|sera|t=bar for fastening a door; bolt]].^(DHLF 1992)^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)^(Grand Robert 2005)^(Wiktionary)^(FEW|11, 496b) The double ⟨rr⟩ is probably due to the influence of [[m|la|ferrum|t=iron]], or of [[m|la|serra|t=saw]], because of the toothed parts of some locks.^(DHLF 1992)^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)^(Grand Robert 2005)^(Littré 1873) Rey calls “sera” a technical term of unclear origin.^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ Cognate with [[it|serrare]], [[oc|sarrar]], [[ca|serrar]], [[es|cerrar]] and [[pt|cerrar]].^(Petit Robert 2007)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The GLLF and the Grand Robert date it to the ''Chanson de Guillaume'' (late 11th century), meaning to grip, Wace (about 1155) has the etymological sense “to bolt (a door)”.^(GLLF 1989)^(Grand Robert 2005)^(TLFi)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In Old French it meant to grip firmly, to close tight (''la bouche serée''), to besiege (1165–70) and to press together (soldiers, teeth); ''le cœur serré'' is in Benoît de Sainte-Maure (about 1165).^(DHLF 1992)^(TLFi)^(Littré 1873) From the 13th century it meant to shut away and to put in a safe place (about 1240), a sense replaced by [[ranger]] but still alive in western and southern France, Belgium, Quebec and Réunion.^(DHLF 1992)^(Petit Robert 2007)

+

+ ''Serrer la main'' dates from d'Aubigné (1616), and ''serrer les rangs'' from Monet (1636).^(TLFi)^(GLLF 1989) Sailors ''serrent le vent'' (1678), sailing close to it.^(TLFi) In slang it means to arrest (''se faire serrer'') and to pick up a lover.^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * Late 11th century – ''Chanson de Guillaume''.^(GLLF 1989)^(Grand Robert 2005)

+ * c. 1155 – “To bolt”, Wace.^(TLFi)

+ * c. 1165 – ''Le cuer serré'', Benoît de Sainte-Maure.^(TLFi)^(Littré 1873)

+ * c. 1240 – “To put away in a safe place”.^(DHLF 1992)

+ * 1616 – ''Serrer la main'', d'Aubigné.^(TLFi)

+ * 1636 – ''Serrer les rangs'', Monet.^(TLFi)

+ * 1678 – ''Serrer le vent''.^(TLFi)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To [[m|en|squeeze]], grip, clasp: ''serrer la main de quelqu'un'', ''serrer quelqu'un dans ses bras''.^(Wiktionary)^(Petit Robert 2007)

+ # To [[m|en|tighten]]: ''serrer un nœud, une vis, sa ceinture'', ''serrer les dents''.^(Wiktionary)^(Littré 1873)

+ # (of clothes) To be tight on: ''ces chaussures me serrent''.^(Petit Robert 2007)

+ # To press close together: ''serrer les rangs'', ''se serrer'', to squeeze up.^(TLFi)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To keep close to, hug: ''serrer le vent'', ''serrer quelqu'un contre un mur''.^(TLFi)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(regional, Quebec, Belgium)'' To put away, store.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(DHLF 1992)

+ # ''(slang)'' To arrest; to pick up, seduce.^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[serre]]

+ * [[serrure]]

+ * [[serrement]]

+ * [[serrage]]

+ * [[desserrer]]

+ * [[resserrer]]

+ * [[enserrer]]

+ * [[serre-tête]]

+ * [[serre-livres]]

+ * [[serre-joint]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[la|sera]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ ''Avoir le cœur serré'' is to feel a pang of sadness, ''se serrer la ceinture'' is to tighten one's belt.^(TLFi)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}