murmurer French · revision 16650

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=first half of the 12th century, Psautier d'Oxford|origins=la murmur}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /myʁ.my.ʁe/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''murmurer'''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|la|murmurō|t=to murmur, mutter; to grumble; to rumble, crackle]], from [[m|la|murmur|t=rumble, low noise]].^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992)^(Grand Robert 2005)^(GLLF 1989)^(FEW|6/3, 230b)^(Wiktionary) The noun is expressive, probably imitative, with counterparts in Armenian, [[grc|μορμύρω|tr=mormúrō|t=to roar, boil]] and [[sa|मर्मर|tr=marmara|t=rustling]].^(DHLF 1992)^(GLLF 1989) The sense of grumbling was developed especially in the language of the Bible.^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992) Rey suggests that the weakening to “speak softly” may be linked with the change of Latin /u/ to French /y/.^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ Compare [[oc|murmurar]], [[es|murmurar]] and [[it|mormorare]].^(Littré 1873)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The ''Psautier d'Oxford'' (first half of the 12th century) uses it for grumbling, protesting under one's breath: ''murmurerent en lur tabernacles'' “they murmured in their tents”.^(TLFi)^(Littré 1873)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Chrétien de Troyes's ''Cligès'' (1176) has it transitively for speaking in a low voice, and the intransitive use follows in the 13th century.^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992) About 1200 Jean Renart uses it of a stream, a use very frequent in Ronsard (''Au son des vers que tu murmures'').^(TLFi)^(Littré 1873) Amyot (mid-16th century) has ''murmurer entre leurs dents''.^(Littré 1873)^(GLLF 1989) The noun [[murmure]] dates from about 1170.^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ ==Timeline==

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

+ * c. 1170 – The noun ''murmure''.^(DHLF 1992)

+ * 1176 – “To speak softly”, Chrétien de Troyes.^(TLFi)

+ * c. 1200 – Of a stream, Jean Renart.^(TLFi)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To [[m|en|murmur]], say in a low voice: ''murmurer quelques mots à l'oreille de quelqu'un''.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To [[m|en|grumble]], complain under one's breath: ''obéir sans murmurer''.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(TLFi)

+ # ''(literary)'' Of water, leaves, wind: to make a soft sound.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(TLFi)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[murmurant]]

+ * [[murmurateur]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[murmure]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}