laver French · revision 16626

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

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /la.ve/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''laver'''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|la|lavō|t=to wash, bathe]].^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992)^(Grand Robert 2005)^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)^(Wiktionary)^(FEW|5, 213a) Latin “lavare” was at first intransitive, with a reflexive sense, while the transitive “to wash” belonged to the related [[m|la|lavō|alt=lavere]], “lavare” later replaced it, and “lavere” survives through compounds that gave [[ablution]] and [[diluer]].^(DHLF 1992) The same root is seen in [[grc|λούω|tr=loúō|t=to wash]] and [[non|laug|t=hot bath]], Wiktionary traces it to [[ine-pro|*lewh₃-|t=to wash]].^(DHLF 1992)^(Littré 1873)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ Cognate with [[it|lavare]], [[oc|lavar]], [[ca|llavar]], [[es|lavar]] and [[pt|lavar]].^(Petit Robert 2007)^(REW 1935)

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+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The ''Passion de Clermont'' (late 10th century) uses it for washing a part of the body with water, and alludes to Pilate washing his hands.^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In the ''Chanson de Roland'' the bodies of the dead are ''lavez de piment et de vin''.^(Littré 1873) From the 12th century it meant to cleanse from sin (''Psautier d'Oxford''), to wash a wound (1170) and ''se laver'' (about 1165); ''s'en laver les mains'' “to disclaim responsibility” (about 1180) recalls Pontius Pilate, and ''laver un affront'' dates from about 1190.^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ Washing objects is recorded in 1485 (''laver les tasses''), and technical uses followed in painting (1576), chemistry (1663) and wool working (1680).^(TLFi) ''Laver la tête à qqn'' “to give someone a dressing-down” is in Commynes (about 1500), and ''laver son linge sale en famille'' in Voltaire.^(TLFi)^(GLLF 1989) Slang used it for spending (1748) and selling stolen goods (1794).^(TLFi)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * late 10th century – To wash, ''Passion de Clermont''.^(TLFi)

+ * first half of the 12th century – “To purify”, ''Psautier d'Oxford''.^(TLFi)

+ * c. 1165 – ''Se laver'', Benoît de Sainte-Maure.^(TLFi)

+ * c. 1180 – To disclaim responsibility.^(TLFi)

+ * 1485 – ''Laver les tasses''.^(TLFi)

+ * c. 1500 – ''Laver la tête de qqn'', Commynes.^(TLFi)

+ * 1794 – Slang “to sell”.^(TLFi)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To [[m|en|wash]], clean with water: ''laver la vaisselle'', ''laver du linge'', ''machine à laver''.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''Se laver'': to wash (oneself): ''se laver les mains'', ''s'en laver les mains'', to wash one's hands of it.^(Wiktionary)^(DHLF 1992)

+ # ''(figurative)'' To clear, cleanse: ''laver qqn d'une accusation'', ''laver un affront''.^(DHLF 1992)^(TLFi)

+ # ''Laver son linge sale en famille'': not to wash one's dirty linen in public.^(GLLF 1989)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(art)'' To apply a wash of colour.^(TLFi)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[lavage]]

+ * [[lavable]]

+ * [[laverie]]

+ * [[lavoir]]

+ * [[lavabo]]

+ * [[délaver]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[latrines]]

+ * [[laveur]]

+ * [[laveuse]]

+ * [[lavure]]

+ * [[lotion]]

+ * [[lavandière]]

+ * [[la|lavō]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}