attirer French · revision 16729

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=c. 1275 (atyrer)}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /a.ti.ʁe/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''attirer'''^(Wiktionary)

+ Earlier ''atyrer'' (about 1275) and ''atirer'' (about 1490).^(Grand Robert 2005)^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is formed from [[tirer|t=to pull, draw]] with the prefix [[a-]].^(DHLF 1992)^(Grand Robert 2005)^(Petit Robert 2007)^(GLLF 1989) The Grand Robert adds that it was modelled on the Old French verb [[m|fro|atirier]],^(Grand Robert 2005) but Rey keeps that verb apart: [[m|fro|atirier]] meant “to put in order, adorn, arrange”, came from the old noun [[m|fro|tire|t=rank, row]] (see [[attirail]]), and survives in [[en|attire]].^(DHLF 1992)^(Littré 1873) The new verb took the place of Old French [[m|fro|attraire]] (whence [[attrait]] and [[attraction]]), just as the simple verb ousted [[traire]] in most of its senses.^(DHLF 1992)^(Grand Robert 2005)^(Petit Robert 2007) The same verb was formed in Old Occitan, [[m|pro|atirar]], recorded from the 14th century in the sense “to win someone over”.^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ Compare [[it|attirare]].^(Littré 1873)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Its first sense was “to bring (someone) along”, now obsolete.^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The modern senses were fixed in the 16th century: “to draw to oneself” (about 1510), “to entice, charm” (1538), and, first in biblical language (1553), “to bring about (misfortune, love)” and “to draw (attention)”.^(DHLF 1992) Other early uses, “to induce someone to do something” (1549) and ''attirer l'air'' “to breathe in” (1553), and the phrase ''attirer quelqu'un à sa cordelle'' “to win someone to one's side”, have gone out of use.^(DHLF 1992) The reflexive ''s'attirer'' “to bring upon oneself” is recorded from the 17th century.^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ Of its derivatives only [[attirant]] (an adjective from 1548, with an erotic nuance from 1690) and [[attirance]] are still current.^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1275 – ''Atyrer''.^(Grand Robert 2005)

+ * c. 1490 – ''Atirer'' “to bring (someone)”.^(DHLF 1992)

+ * c. 1510 – “To draw to oneself”.^(DHLF 1992)

+ * 1534 – Rabelais uses the spelling ''attirer''.^(Grand Robert 2005)^(Petit Robert 2007)

+ * 1538 – “To entice, charm”.^(DHLF 1992)

+ * 1553 – “To bring about” and “to draw (attention)”, in biblical language.^(DHLF 1992)

+ * 17th century – Reflexive ''s'attirer''.^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To [[m|en|attract]], draw towards oneself by a physical force: ''l'aimant attire le fer''.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(GLLF 1989)

+ # To make (a living being) come to a place: ''la lumière attire les papillons''; to [[m|en|lure]] (an animal).^(Petit Robert 2007)^(GLLF 1989)

+ # To draw (people) by arousing their interest or liking; to [[m|en|entice]], charm.^(GLLF 1989)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To draw (attention, looks): ''attirer l'attention de quelqu'un sur quelque chose''.^(GLLF 1989)^(Petit Robert 2007)

+ # To bring about, cause (something) for someone: ''attirer des ennuis à quelqu'un''.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(DHLF 1992)

+ # ''S'attirer'': to bring upon oneself, incur, (reciprocal) to attract each other.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[attirant]]

+ * [[attirance]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[tirer]]

+ * [[attirail]]

+ * [[attrait]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}