enfoncer French · revision 16662

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=c. 1150, Charroi de Nîmes|origins=la fundus}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ɑ̃.fɔ̃.se/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''enfoncer'''^(Wiktionary)

+ Old French ''enfonser''; the modern spelling with ⟨c⟩ follows [[fond]].^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Grand Robert 2005)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is formed with the prefix [[en-]] and a verb ending on [[m|fro|fons]], the older form of [[fond]] and [[fonds]].^(TLFi)^(Grand Robert 2005)^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Wiktionary)^(FEW|3, 870b) The noun continues [[la|fundus|t=bottom; estate]], through a popular neuter form [[m|la-vul|*fundus|alt=*fundoris]] that explains why the Old French noun was invariable.^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989) Littré analyses it as the prefix and [[foncer]].^(Littré 1873)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The ''Charroi de Nîmes'' (about 1150) has it in the sense “to provide with a bottom”.^(TLFi)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Sarrazin's ''Roman de Ham'' (1278) has ''enfonsé'' “laden with”, and the ''Ménagier de Paris'' (about 1393) ''yeuls enfoncés'' “sunken eyes”.^(TLFi) The sense “to push in so as to break up” is military at first: Montaigne writes of breaking through the enemy battalion, and La Noue (1587) of cavalry that fail to break in.^(TLFi)^(Littré 1873) Figurative senses followed: “to defeat, outdo” (Corneille, 1635) and ''s'enfoncer'' in a reverie (Madame de Sévigné, before 1696).^(GLLF 1989)^(BHVF) Set phrases include ''enfoncer le clou'' “to hammer the point home” and ''enfoncer une porte ouverte'' “to labour the obvious”.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1150 – “To provide with a bottom”, ''Charroi de Nîmes''.^(TLFi)

+ * 1278 – ''Enfonsé'' “laden with”.^(TLFi)^(Grand Robert 2005)

+ * c. 1393 – ''Yeuls enfoncés'', ''Ménagier de Paris''.^(TLFi)

+ * 1580 – Montaigne.^(GLLF 1989)

+ * 1587 – “To break through (the enemy)”, La Noue.^(TLFi)

+ * 1635 – Corneille.^(GLLF 1989)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To drive in, push (something) deep in: ''enfoncer un pieu en terre'', ''enfoncer un clou'', ''enfoncer son chapeau'', to pull it down hard.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To [[m|en|break down]], break open: ''enfoncer une porte'', ''enfoncer une porte ouverte'', to state the obvious.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To break through (enemy lines); ''(familiar)'' to [[m|en|defeat]], outdo.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''Enfoncer le clou'': to drive the point home.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(intransitive)'' To [[m|en|sink]] in: ''on enfonce dans la neige''.^(Wiktionary)^(Petit Robert 2007)

+ # ''S'enfoncer'': to sink, go deep into (''s'enfoncer dans la forêt''); to get deeper into trouble; to immerse oneself.^(Wiktionary)^(BHVF)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[enfoncement]]

+ * [[enfonçure]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[fond]]

+ * [[fonds]]

+ * [[foncer]]

+ * [[défoncer]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}