former French · revision 16614

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1135, Couronnement de Louis|origins=la forma}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /fɔʁ.me/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''former'''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|la|fōrmō|t=to shape, form; to arrange; to instruct]], from [[m|la|fōrma|t=form, shape]] (see [[forme]]).^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992)^(Grand Robert 2005)^(GLLF 1989)^(Wiktionary)^(FEW|3, 716b) The inherited outcome of the Latin noun “formatio” was Old French “formaison”, “formation” was borrowed about 1170.^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ Compare [[pro|formar]], [[es|formar]] and [[it|formare]].^(Littré 1873)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The ''Couronnement de Louis'' (about 1135) uses it for giving something a particular shape, and the ''Psautier de Cambridge'' (first half of the 12th century) for God creating: ''Dame dex pere, qui formastes Adam''.^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992)^(Littré 1873)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In Guernes de Pont-Sainte-Maxence (1172–1174) it means “to formulate”, a sense now gone, like “to engender” (1647, Corneille).^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992) Montchrestien (1604) uses it for conceiving in the mind, as in ''former un dessein'', and Montaigne (1580) for shaping a person's mind, whence ''se former'' “to educate oneself” (1688, Bossuet).^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ Palissy (1563, 1580) has “to take the shape of” and ''se former'' “to come into being”, and Pascal (1656–1657) “to make up, constitute”.^(TLFi) Rey sees the core sense shifting from “to create” to “to organize”.^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1135 – “To shape”, ''Couronnement de Louis''.^(TLFi)

+ * first half of the 12th century – Of God creating.^(TLFi)

+ * 1172–1174 – “To formulate”.^(TLFi)

+ * 1580 – To shape a mind, Montaigne.^(TLFi)

+ * 1604 – ''Un dessein formé'', Montchrestien.^(TLFi)

+ * 1656–1657 – “To constitute”, Pascal.^(TLFi)

+ * 1688 – ''Se former'' “to learn”, Bossuet.^(TLFi)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To [[m|en|form]], create, make exist: ''Dieu forma l'homme''; to put together: ''former un gouvernement'', ''former un train''.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To shape, give a form to: ''former ses lettres''.^(TLFi)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To [[m|en|train]], educate: ''former des ingénieurs'', ''se former'', to train, learn.^(TLFi)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To make up, constitute: ''ils forment un beau couple''.^(TLFi)^(Petit Robert 2007)

+ # To conceive: ''former un projet'', ''former des vœux''.^(Petit Robert 2007)

+ # ''Se former'': to take shape, come into being.^(TLFi)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[formation]]

+ * [[forme]]

+ * [[la|fōrmō]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}