brûler French · revision 16537

+ {{infobox|confidence=disputed|formation=inherited|attested=c. 1120, Psautier d'Oxford (bruller)|origins=la ūrō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /bʁy.le/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''brûler'''^(Wiktionary)

+ Old French ''bruller'' (about 1120), ''brusler'' (end of the 12th century); ''brûler'' from 1669.^(DHLF 1992)^(Petit Robert 2007)

+ The 1990 spelling reform allows ''bruler''.^(Larousse)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|fro|bruller]], of uncertain origin.^(DHLF 1992)^(Grand Robert 2005) Its second part is generally taken from Old French [[m|fro|usler|t=to scorch]], [[inh|la|ustulō|t=to scorch, singe]], from [[m|la|ūrō|t=to burn]].^(DHLF 1992)^(Grand Robert 2005)^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Wiktionary)^(FEW|14, 76a) The initial “br-” is much disputed.^(DHLF 1992) Most sources explain it by crossing with Old French [[m|fro|bruir|t=to burn]], from [[frk|*brōjan|t=to scald]].^(DHLF 1992)^(Grand Robert 2005)^(GLLF 1989)^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Wiktionary) Others propose a popular Latin “*bustulāre”, taken from “combūrō” and “ambūrō” (whence [[buste]] and [[combustion]]), or, for the Italian forms, a Mediterranean base, Pierre Guiraud derived it from “*bruscitulāre”, “to singe with heather”, from [[la-lat|bruscus|t=butcher's broom; heather]].^(DHLF 1992)^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Grand Robert 2005) Wiktionary also mentions a Gaulish relative of [[sga|bruth|t=boiling heat]].^(Wiktionary)

+

+ Compare [[it|brustolare]] and [[pro|bruslar]].^(Littré 1873)^(Wiktionary) Only French has this verb; the other Romance languages prefer descendants of [[la|ārdeō]], as [[es|arder]], or of [[m|la|cremō]], as [[oc|cremar]] and [[es|quemar]].^(Petit Robert 2007)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The Oxford Psalter (about 1120) has ''Sicume fus chi brulle la selve'' “as the fire that burns the forest”.^(Littré 1873)^(GLLF 1989)^(Grand Robert 2005)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Transitive “to destroy by fire” and intransitive “to be destroyed by fire” (before 1150) are the first uses; with a person or part of the body as object it meant to kill or injure by fire.^(DHLF 1992) Old French used it figuratively (1200–25) and for “to dry out” (about 1180).^(DHLF 1992) The intransitive use for extreme heat dates from 1539, and for an intense feeling, love, desire or impatience, from 1538, as in Du Bellay's ''Didon se brusle''.^(DHLF 1992)^(Littré 1873) ''Brûler ses vaisseaux'' and ''brûler la cervelle'' are classical, Littré explains ''brûler ses livres'' by the alchemist who burns his books in despair.^(GLLF 1989)^(Littré 1873) ''Brûler les étapes'' and ''brûler un feu rouge'' express going past without stopping, and in games ''tu brûles !'' means “you're getting warm”.^(Wiktionary)^(Petit Robert 2007) Regionally in France, Belgium and Luxembourg, an electric appliance ''brûle'' when it is switched on.^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1120 – ''Bruller'', Oxford Psalter.^(GLLF 1989)

+ * Before 1150 – Intransitive “to be on fire”.^(DHLF 1992)

+ * c. 1180 – “To dry out”.^(DHLF 1992)

+ * Late 12th century – ''Brusler''.^(Petit Robert 2007)

+ * 1538 – To burn with a feeling.^(DHLF 1992)

+ * 1539 – Of extreme heat.^(DHLF 1992)

+ * 1669 – The spelling ''brûler''.^(Petit Robert 2007)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To [[m|en|burn]], destroy by fire: ''brûler des papiers'', ''brûler vif''.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Le Robert)

+ # To burn as fuel or for light: ''brûler du bois'', ''brûler un cierge''.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(TLFi)

+ # To burn, scorch, scald: ''le soleil brûle la peau'', ''se brûler la main''.^(DHLF 1992)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(intransitive)'' To be on fire, to burn; of food, to burn.^(Larousse)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(intransitive)'' To be very hot; to burn with a feeling: ''brûler de fièvre'', ''brûler d'impatience'', ''brûler de'' with the infinitive, to long to.^(DHLF 1992)^(GLLF 1989)

+ # To pass without stopping: ''brûler un feu rouge'', ''brûler les étapes'', ''brûler la politesse à quelqu'un'', to leave abruptly.^(Wiktionary)^(Petit Robert 2007)

+ # ''(games, familiar)'' To be very close to the answer: ''tu brûles !''.^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[brûlant]]

+ * [[brûlé]]

+ * [[brûlure]]

+ * [[brûleur]]

+ * [[brûlot]]

+ * [[brûlis]]

+ * [[brûlerie]]

+ * [[brûlage]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[combustion]]

+ * [[la|ustulō]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}