habiller French · revision 16668

+ {{infobox|confidence=probable|formation=derivation|attested=c. 1200, L'Escoufle (s'abille)|origins=xtg *bilia}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /a.bi.je/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''habiller'''^(Wiktionary)

+ Old French ''abiller'', ''abillier''; the spelling with ⟨h⟩ is found from the 15th century (Commynes, Monstrelet, before 1453).^(TLFi)^(Grand Robert 2005)^(GLLF 1989)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is probably formed with the prefix [[a-]] and a verb ending on [[bille|t=log, piece of a tree trunk]], so “to prepare a log”, hence “to lop and bark; to prepare, make ready”.^(TLFi)^(Grand Robert 2005)^(Petit Robert 2007)^(GLLF 1989)^(FEW|1, 366b) The noun is traced to [[xtg|*bilia|t=tree trunk]], compare [[ga|bile|t=tree]].^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)^(Petit Robert 2007) The ⟨h⟩ and the shift towards “to clothe” are due to association with [[habit]], which belongs to another family, and with the adjective meaning “able”.^(TLFi)^(Grand Robert 2005)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ Littré derived the verb from [[habile]] in the sense “handy, ready”, Meyer-Lübke rejects this, since that adjective was taken into French only in the 15th century.^(Littré 1873)^(REW 1935)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ ''L'Escoufle'' (about 1200) has the reflexive ''s'abille'' “gets ready, prepares himself”.^(TLFi)^(Petit Robert 2007)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The sense “to prepare” was applied to many crafts: equipping for war (about 1340, Guiart, about 1307), preparing meat in cooking (about 1450), tending a wound (1456), tanning (1559), pottery (Richelet, 1680), pruning a tree for planting (1701) and dressing cod (1752).^(TLFi)^(Grand Robert 2005) The ''Comptes'' of King René (1463) use it for fitting out a gallery.^(TLFi)

+

+ Under the influence of ''habit'', ''s'habiller'' “to dress” appears in Christine de Pizan (early 15th century) and the active verb in Antoine de La Sale (1456); Coquillart (1478–80) uses it of a manner of dressing, and Noël du Fail has ''mal habillee'' (1548).^(TLFi) Boileau's ''j'habille en vers une maligne prose'' (1665) is figurative.^(TLFi) Theatre slang uses it for filling a house with complimentary tickets.^(BHVF)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1200 – ''S'abille'' “gets ready”, ''L'Escoufle''.^(TLFi)

+ * c. 1307 – ''Abillier'' “to equip”, Guiart.^(Grand Robert 2005)^(GLLF 1989)

+ * Early 15th century – ''S'habiller'' “to dress”, Christine de Pizan.^(TLFi)

+ * c. 1450 – “To dress (meat)”.^(TLFi)

+ * 1456 – Active “to dress (someone)”, Antoine de La Sale.^(TLFi)

+ * 1665 – Figurative, Boileau.^(TLFi)

+ * 1752 – ''Habiller la morue''.^(TLFi)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To [[m|en|dress]], clothe (someone): ''habiller un enfant''; to provide with clothes; of a tailor, to make clothes for.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''S'habiller'': to get dressed; to dress in a certain way; to dress up: ''s'habiller pour le dîner''.^(Wiktionary)^(Petit Robert 2007)

+ # Of a garment, to suit: ''cette robe l'habille bien''.^(Petit Robert 2007)

+ # To cover, put a covering on: ''habiller un fauteuil de cuir'', ''(figurative)'' to dress up, present.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(TLFi)

+ # ''(technical)'' To prepare (meat, fish, a tree, skins, a watch) for use.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(TLFi)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[habillage]]

+ * [[habillement]]

+ * [[habilleur]]

+ * [[déshabiller]]

+ * [[rhabiller]]

+ * [[déshabillé]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[bille]]

+ * [[habit]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}