allonger French · revision 16655

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=c. 1160, Benoît de Sainte-Maure, Roman de Troie (alonger)|origins=la longus}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /a.lɔ̃.ʒe/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''allonger'''^(Wiktionary)

+ Old French ''alonger'' (about 1160), ''alongier'' (1239).^(TLFi)^(Grand Robert 2005)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is formed from [[long]] with the prefix [[a-]] and a verbal ending.^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992)^(Grand Robert 2005)^(Petit Robert 2007)^(FEW|5, 408a) Wiktionary mentions as possible [[la-vul|*allongō|alt=*allongāre]], listed by Meyer-Lübke, beside [[la-lat|ēlongō|t=to lengthen]].^(Wiktionary)^(REW 1935) The adjective is from [[la|longus|t=long]].^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)

+

+ Compare [[pro|alongar]], [[it|allungare]] and [[ro|alunga|t=to drive away]].^(REW 1935)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Benoît de Sainte-Maure's ''Roman de Troie'' (about 1160) has ''alonger'' “to make longer”.^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ A Douai document of 1239 uses ''alongier'' for extending a time limit, and the verb was soon used of time as well as space.^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992) Ronsard (second half of the 16th century) has ''s'allonger'' “to stretch out at full length”, now also “to lie down”, Olivier de Serres (late 16th century) has ''allonger'' wine with water, whence ''allonger la sauce'' “to pad out what one says”.^(TLFi)^(Petit Robert 2007)

+

+ From “to stretch (a limb)” came ''allonger une botte'' in fencing (1717) and ''allonger un coup'' “to land a blow” (1680, Richelet, Stendhal, 1836).^(DHLF 1992)^(BHVF) Slang uses it for handing over money (''les allonger''), and ''s'allonger'' for confessing.^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1160 – ''Alonger'', Benoît de Sainte-Maure.^(TLFi)

+ * 1239 – Of a time limit.^(TLFi)

+ * Second half of the 16th century – ''S'allonger'', Ronsard.^(TLFi)

+ * Late 16th century – To dilute wine, Olivier de Serres.^(TLFi)

+ * 1680 – ''Allonger un coup''.^(BHVF)

+ * 1717 – ''Allonger une botte'', in fencing.^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To [[m|en|lengthen]], make longer: ''allonger une jupe''; to make look longer.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To extend, stretch out (a limb): ''allonger le bras, les jambes'', ''allonger le pas'', to quicken one's step.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To lay (someone) down: ''allonger un blessé''.^(Wiktionary)

+ # To dilute: ''allonger une sauce, un café'', ''allonger la sauce'', to pad out a story.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(familiar)'' To land (a blow); to hand over (money).^(DHLF 1992)^(BHVF)

+ # ''(intransitive)'' Of days, to grow longer.^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''S'allonger'': to stretch out, lie down; to grow longer.^(Wiktionary)^(TLFi)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[allongement]]

+ * [[allonge]]

+ * [[allongé]]

+ * [[rallonger]]

+ * [[rallonge]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[long]]

+ * [[longueur]]

+ * [[prolonger]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}