témoin French · revision 16758

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=c. 1165, Guillaume d'Angleterre (tesmoing)|origins=la testimonium}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /te.mwɛ̃/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''témoin''' ''m'' (plural témoins, feminine (rare) témoignesse or (both nonstandard) témouine or témointe)^(Wiktionary)

+ Old French [[m|fro|tesmoign]] (about 1150) and [[m|fro|tesmoin]] (about 1175); ''témoin'' from the 17th century.^(DHLF 1992)^(GLLF 1989)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|fro|tesmoin]], [[inh|la|testimōnium|t=testimony; proof]], which in Late Latin also meant “a witness” (late 4th century, in Egeria's account of her pilgrimage).^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992)^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)^(Grand Robert 2005)^(FEW|13/1, 284b)^(Wiktionary) The Latin noun is derived from [[m|la|testis|t=witness]];^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992) Rey explains that noun through [[m|la|*terstis]], from an older [[m|la|*tristis]] “one who stands as a third party”, from the root of [[m|la|trēs|t=three]], with an exact match in [[osc|trstus|t=witnesses]].^(DHLF 1992)^(Petit Robert 2007) The French word thus combined the senses of both Latin nouns.^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ Old French also borrowed the Latin noun as [[m|fro|testimonie]] “testimony, proof” (early 12th century), whence [[en|testimony]]; it did not survive in French.^(TLFi)^(Wiktionary) Cognate with [[it|testimonio]], [[es|testimonio]], [[oc|testimòni]], [[ca|testimoni]] and [[pt|testemunha|t=witness]].^(Petit Robert 2007)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ About 1165 ''Guillaume d'Angleterre'' uses ''tesmoing'' for a document that serves as proof, Chrétien de Troyes (1176–81) has ''tesmoing et garant'', material proof.^(TLFi)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The sense “proof, testimony”, kept today by [[témoignage]], lasted long in law in ''en témoin de quoi'' (1417), out of use in the 19th century, and survives in ''prendre à témoin'' (1530; earlier ''traire a tesmon'', 13th century), and in ''témoin…'' “as witness…” at the head of a sentence (about 1175).^(DHLF 1992)^(TLFi)^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989) Before 1200 it also named a person who certifies what he saw or heard, as in ''faux témoin'' (about 1283, Beaumanoir), and the witness who certifies a legal act.^(DHLF 1992)^(TLFi) Marot (1543) extends it to anyone who simply sees an event, and, from the early 19th century it names a second in a duel.^(DHLF 1992)^(TLFi)

+

+ As in Latin, the plural ''témoins'' was used for the testicles (late 13th century).^(DHLF 1992) The idea of a reference gave a sample of goods (1260), a mound of earth left to show the original level (1676), and modern uses in apposition such as ''lampe-témoin'' (1929) and ''appartement-témoin''.^(TLFi)^(BHVF)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1165 – “Proof, document”, ''Guillaume d'Angleterre''.^(TLFi)

+ * c. 1175 – A person who testifies, Chrétien de Troyes.^(DHLF 1992)^(GLLF 1989)

+ * 1260 – A sample of grain, Étienne Boileau's ''Livre des métiers''.^(TLFi)

+ * c. 1283 – ''Faus tesmoins'', Beaumanoir.^(TLFi)

+ * 1530 – ''Prendre à témoin'', Palsgrave.^(GLLF 1989)

+ * 1543 – A spectator, Marot.^(TLFi)

+ * Early 19th century – A second in a duel.^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # ''(law)'' A [[m|en|witness]]: a person who testifies to what he saw or heard, ''témoin à charge, à décharge'', witness for the prosecution, for the defence, ''faux témoin''.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Wiktionary)^(GLLF 1989)

+ # A person who attests a document or ceremony; at a wedding, a witness or [[m|en|best man]].^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Wiktionary)

+ # An onlooker, a person present at an event: ''témoin oculaire'', an eyewitness.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A second in a [[m|en|duel]].^(DHLF 1992)^(GLLF 1989)

+ # ''(athletics)'' The [[m|en|baton]] passed in a relay race.^(Wiktionary)

+ # Something that serves as a reference or evidence; a control, a [[m|en|control group]]; an indicator light; in apposition, ''appartement-témoin'', a show flat.^(Wiktionary)^(BHVF)

+ # ''Prendre à témoin'': to call to witness.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[témoigner]]

+ * [[témoignage]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[testament]]

+ * [[tester]]

+ * [[testicule]]

+ * [[en|testimony]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ The feminine is rare; the Petit Robert gives ''la témoin''.^(Petit Robert 2007) In ''prendre à témoin'' the word is invariable, as it means “testimony”, though it is sometimes made to agree by confusion with the person.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}