surprendre French · revision 16575

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=1130–40, Wace (sorprendre)|origins=la prehendō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /syʁ.pʁɑ̃dʁ/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''surprendre'''^(Wiktionary)

+ Old French ''sorprendre'' (about 1130), the usual spelling until the 16th century, ''surprendre'' from the end of the 12th century.^(DHLF 1992)^(Grand Robert 2005)^(GLLF 1989)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[af|fr|sur-|prendre]], Old French “sor-” (see [[sur]]).^(DHLF 1992)^(Grand Robert 2005)^(GLLF 1989)^(Littré 1873)^(FEW|9, 350b)^(Wiktionary) Wiktionary notes that Old French distinguished “sorprendre” “to overtake” from “sousprendre” “to catch unawares”, which later merged.^(Wiktionary) Littré points out that the sense “to deceive” already belongs to Low Latin “superprendere” in the “Lex Ripuaria”.^(Littré 1873) “Prendre” is from [[la|prehendō|t=to seize]].^(Wiktionary)

+

+ Compare [[pro|sorprendre]] and [[it|soprapprendere]].^(Littré 1873)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Wace's ''Conception Nostre Dame'' (1130–40) has ''deables nos a sorpris E noz cuers en tenebres mis'' “the devil has deceived us and put our hearts in darkness”: to trouble the mind, beguile.^(TLFi)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ About 1160 the ''Roman d'Eneas'' uses it of a passion or illness seizing someone, and of an unexpected armed attack.^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992) Chrétien de Troyes (1176–81) has it for coming upon someone unexpectedly and for catching someone in the act (''Érec'').^(TLFi) ''Surprendre la bonne foi de qqn'' (1663) keeps the old sense “to abuse”.^(DHLF 1992) In 1538 it meant to intercept a letter, and in 1650 to obtain a permission by underhand means, senses now lost.^(DHLF 1992) From 1663 it meant to discover by chance what someone hides, and, from 1707 to visit unexpectedly (Lesage).^(DHLF 1992)^(GLLF 1989) Its participle gave [[surprise]] and [[surprenant]].^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1130–40 – ''Sorprendre'', to beguile, Wace.^(TLFi)

+ * c. 1160 – Of an unexpected attack, ''Eneas''.^(TLFi)

+ * 1176–81 – To come upon unexpectedly, Chrétien de Troyes.^(TLFi)

+ * end of the 12th century – The form ''surprendre''.^(DHLF 1992)

+ * 1538 – To intercept a letter.^(DHLF 1992)

+ * 1663 – ''Surprendre la bonne foi''.^(DHLF 1992)

+ * 1707 – To visit unexpectedly, Lesage.^(GLLF 1989)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To [[m|en|surprise]], astonish: ''sa réaction m'a surpris'', ''être surpris de''.^(Wiktionary)^(Petit Robert 2007)

+ # To catch (someone) in the act, catch out: ''surprendre un voleur''.^(Wiktionary)^(DHLF 1992)

+ # To catch unawares, take by surprise: ''l'orage nous a surpris'', ''surprendre l'ennemi''.^(TLFi)^(Grand Robert 2005)

+ # To come upon unexpectedly; to drop in on.^(TLFi)^(GLLF 1989)

+ # To discover, overhear (something hidden): ''surprendre une conversation'', ''surprendre un regard''.^(Wiktionary)^(DHLF 1992)

+ # ''Surprendre la bonne foi de qqn'': to abuse someone's trust.^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[surpris]]

+ * [[surprise]]

+ * [[surprenant]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[prendre]]

+ * [[la|prehendō]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}