proche French · revision 16590

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=back-formation|attested=1259 (procement)|origins=la prope}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /pʁɔʃ/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''proche''' (plural proches)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is a back-formation from [[prochain]], from [[la-vul|*propiānus]], from [[la|prope|t=near]].^(TLFi)^(Grand Robert 2005)^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)^(GLLF 1989)^(FEW|9, 450b) It replaced the Old French adverb “pruef”, “prof” “near”, from Latin “prope”.^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)^(Grand Robert 2005) Littré derived it from Latin [[m|la|propius|t=nearer]].^(Littré 1873)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The adverb ''prochet'' “quite near” is found about 1210 and ''prochement'' in 1259; the word was rare before the 16th century.^(TLFi)^(Grand Robert 2005)^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989) In ''Hugues Capet'' (1330) it is used of close kinship: ''ly plus proche de men estracïon''.^(TLFi)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Robert Estienne (1549) has ''proche parent'', and Montaigne (1580) ''les proches'', one's close relatives, and ''proche'' of close friends.^(TLFi) In space it was first a preposition, ''proche de'' (1552) and ''proche'' alone (''proche la porte Saint-Bernard'', La Rochefoucauld, 1652), now dated or regional, then an adjective (1587) and an adverb (1662); ''de proche en proche'' “step by step” is in La Fontaine (1679).^(TLFi)^(Petit Robert 2007) In time it is recorded by Monet (1636).^(TLFi) In Canada and Louisiana ''proche de'' still means “near”, and ''passer proche de'' “to nearly (do something)”.^(Petit Robert 2007)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1259 – The adverb ''prochement''.^(TLFi)

+ * 1330 – Of close kinship, ''Hugues Capet''.^(TLFi)

+ * 1580 – ''Les proches'', Montaigne.^(TLFi)

+ * 1587 – Adjective ''proche de'', La Noue.^(TLFi)

+ * 1636 – Near in time, Monet.^(TLFi)

+ * 1679 – ''De proche en proche'', La Fontaine.^(TLFi)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # [[m|en|near]], close (in space): ''la ville la plus proche'', ''proche de la gare''.^(Wiktionary)^(GLLF 1989)

+ # Near, imminent (in time): ''dans un avenir proche'', ''la fin est proche''.^(Wiktionary)^(Petit Robert 2007)

+ # Close (by kinship, friendship or likeness): ''un proche parent'', ''des opinions proches''.^(TLFi)^(GLLF 1989)

+ # ''Le Proche-Orient'': the [[m|en|Near East]].^(Petit Robert 2007)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # ''(usually plural)'' A close relative, loved one: ''ses proches''.^(Wiktionary)^(TLFi)

+

+ ===Adverb===

+ # ''De proche en proche'': step by step, gradually.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(TLFi)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[prochain]]

+ * [[approcher]]

+ * [[rapprocher]]

+ * [[la|prope]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}