lâcher French · revision 16502

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=c. 1100, Chanson de Roland (lascier)|origins=la laxus}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /la.ʃe/^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA: /lɑ.ʃe/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''lâcher'''^(Wiktionary)

+ Old French [[m|fro|lascier]] (1080), [[m|fro|laschier]], ''lascher'' (1256); spelled ''lascher'' by the Académie in 1694 and 1718, ''lâcher'' afterwards.^(DHLF 1992)^(TLFi)^(GLLF 1989)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|fro|laschier]], [[inh|la-vul|*lassicō]], a dissimilated form of [[m|la-lat|laxicō|t=to loosen]], a frequentative of [[m|la|laxō|t=to widen, loosen, relax]], from [[m|la|laxus|t=loose, slack]].^(DHLF 1992)^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)^(Grand Robert 2005)^(Petit Robert 2007)^(FEW|5, 195b) Bloch and Wartburg explain the change by dissimilation of the two /k/ sounds of “laksikare”, “laxāre” itself gave [[laisser]].^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989) The Petit Robert relates “laxus” to [[en|slack]], [[de|schlack]] and [[grc|λαγώς|tr=lagṓs|t=hare]], “with drooping ears”.^(Petit Robert 2007)

+

+ Cognate with [[it|lascare]] and [[es|lascar]].^(Petit Robert 2007)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ In the ''Chanson de Roland'' (about 1100) a knight spurs his horse and slackens the reins: ''son cheval broche, si li lasche la resne''.^(Littré 1873)^(TLFi)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The first sense, “to let go by loosening what holds”, gave figurative ''lâcher les frains'' (about 1235), later ''lâcher la bride'' “to give free rein”.^(DHLF 1992)^(TLFi) It meant to free someone (from a vow, 1160–74; a prisoner, 1468), to unleash a falcon (about 1200) or dogs (1552), to let fall from one's hands (1538), and to fire a weapon (1530).^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992) ''Lâcher prise'' (1560) and ''lâcher pied'' (before 1600) are figurative.^(DHLF 1992)^(TLFi)

+

+ From about 1580 it was used of speech: ''lâcher une parole'' (Montaigne), ''le mot en est lâché'' (Corneille, 1644), ''lâcher le morceau'' (1878).^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992) It also meant to let out bodily fluids: ''lâcher des larmes'' (1552), ''lâcher un vent'' (1690).^(DHLF 1992) From before 1544 it meant to abandon someone, familiarly to drop a partner (1808), and in sport to outdistance (1884); in the 1980s ''lâche-moi les baskets'' “leave me alone” was coined.^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1100 – ''Lasche la resne'', ''Chanson de Roland''.^(Littré 1873)

+ * c. 1235 – ''Laschier les frains''.^(TLFi)

+ * 1468 – To release a prisoner.^(TLFi)

+ * 1530 – Of a firearm.^(TLFi)

+ * 1538 – To let fall.^(TLFi)

+ * c. 1580 – ''Lâcher une parole'', Montaigne.^(TLFi)

+ * 1873 – The noun ''un lâcher''.^(Grand Robert 2005)

+ * 1884 – To outdistance (in sport).^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To [[m|en|release]], let go of: ''lâcher la corde'', ''lâcher prise''.^(Wiktionary)^(DHLF 1992)

+ # To loosen, slacken: ''lâcher la bride''.^(TLFi)^(Littré 1873)

+ # To drop, let fall: ''lâcher un verre''.^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992)

+ # To set free, release; to unleash: ''lâcher les chiens''.^(DHLF 1992)^(TLFi)

+ # To let slip (a word): ''lâcher un juron'', ''lâcher le morceau'', to spill the beans.^(DHLF 1992)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(familiar)'' To [[m|en|abandon]], drop (someone); to leave behind (competitors).^(Wiktionary)^(DHLF 1992)

+ # ''(intransitive)'' To give way, break: ''la corde a lâché''; to chicken out.^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''Lâcher pied'': to give ground.^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[lâche]]

+ * [[lâcheté]]

+ * [[lâcheur]]

+ * [[lâchage]]

+ * [[relâcher]]

+ * [[relâche]]

+ * [[relâchement]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[laisser]]

+ * [[relaxer]]

+ * [[la|laxus]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ ''Un lâcher'' (1873) is a release: ''un lâcher de ballons, de pigeons''.^(Grand Robert 2005)^(Petit Robert 2007)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}