mener French · revision 16514

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=late 10th century, Passion de Clermont|origins=la minor}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /mə.ne/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''mener'''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|la-vul|minō|alt=mināre|t=to drive (animals)]], an active form that replaced classical [[m|la|minor|alt=minārī|t=to threaten]].^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992)^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)^(Grand Robert 2005)^(Wiktionary)^(FEW|6/2, 100a) The change of meaning comes from rural and popular speech: one threatened beasts with shouts and the whip to make them move on, whence “to drive animals”.^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992) This sense survives in [[ro|mâna|t=to drive cattle]] and Calabrian “minare” “to goad beasts”, and in Old French hunting language, “to pursue a beast” (about 1160).^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992) The Petit Robert connects “minārī” with [[m|la|minae|t=projecting points; threats]].^(Petit Robert 2007)

+

+ Cognate with [[it|menare]], [[ca|menar]] and [[oc|amenar]].^(Petit Robert 2007)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ In the ''Passion de Clermont'' (late 10th century) it means to accompany someone while guiding them; in the ''Chanson de Roland'' it means to lead an army and to take someone by force: ''Bramimonde, qu'il meinet en sa prisun''.^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In the 12th century it meant to walk at the head of a group, especially of dancers (''mener la danse''), and to drive animals (Chrétien de Troyes, about 1170).^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992) Without any idea of movement it was used for carrying on an activity: ''grant duel mener'' “to make great lament” (about 1050), ''sa guerre mener'' (about 1100), ''mener une vie'' (about 1180), ''mener grand train'' (1835).^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992) From the 13th century it also meant to command, direct, as in ''mener à la baguette'' and ''mener par le bout du nez''.^(DHLF 1992)^(GLLF 1989) In sport ''mener la course'' (1892) and absolute ''mener'' “to be in the lead” (1937) are modern.^(TLFi) Since the classical period it has lost ground to [[emmener]] and to [[conduire]].^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * Late 10th century – “To lead”, ''Passion de Clermont''.^(TLFi)

+ * c. 1050 – ''Grant duel mener'', ''Vie de saint Alexis''.^(TLFi)

+ * c. 1100 – To lead an army, ''Chanson de Roland''.^(TLFi)

+ * c. 1170 – To drive animals, Chrétien de Troyes.^(TLFi)

+ * 1663 – “To direct”, Molière.^(TLFi)

+ * 1835 – ''Mener grand train''.^(TLFi)

+ * 1937 – ''Mener'' “to be in the lead”.^(TLFi)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To [[m|en|take]], bring (someone somewhere): ''mener les enfants à l'école''.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To [[m|en|lead]], be at the head of: ''mener la danse'', ''mener le jeu''.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To drive (animals): ''mener les bêtes aux champs''.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(TLFi)

+ # To run, manage, conduct: ''mener une enquête'', ''mener à bien'', to carry through.^(Wiktionary)^(DHLF 1992)

+ # To lead (a life): ''mener une vie tranquille'', ''mener grand train'', to live in style.^(DHLF 1992)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Of a road, to lead: ''tous les chemins mènent à Rome''.^(TLFi)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(sport)'' To lead, be ahead: ''mener par deux buts à zéro''.^(Larousse)^(TLFi)

+ # Set phrases: ''mener en bateau'', to take for a ride, ''ne pas en mener large'', to feel very uneasy.^(Wiktionary)^(Petit Robert 2007)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[menée]]

+ * [[meneur]]

+ * [[amener]]

+ * [[ramener]]

+ * [[emmener]]

+ * [[remmener]]

+ * [[malmener]]

+ * [[promener]]

+ * [[surmener]]

+ * [[démener]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[menace]]

+ * [[menacer]]

+ * [[la|minor]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ The children's verb ''mener-mener'' “to take for a walk” (1937), used only in the infinitive, is taken from [[promener]].^(Grand Robert 2005)^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}