bonne French · revision 16787

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=1708, Furetière (term of affection); 1762, Académie|origins=la bonus}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /bɔn/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''bonne''' ''f'' (plural bonnes)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is the feminine of the adjective [[bon]] used as a noun, at first as a children's affectionate name for the servant who looked after them.^(GLLF 1989)^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Littré 1873) The adjective continues [[la|bonus|t=good]].^(Grand Robert 2005)^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Furetière's dictionary (1708 edition) records it as a term of affection, and the Académie (1762) for a woman who looks after children.^(GLLF 1989)^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Grand Robert 2005)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ From the children's nurse the word passed to any live-in maidservant, ''bonne à tout faire'' was the maid who did all the housework, and ''bonne d'enfants'' the nursemaid.^(GLLF 1989)^(Petit Robert 2007) The phrase is now dated, and ''boniche'' is a pejorative form.^(Petit Robert 2007) Charles Fourier formed from it ''bonnin'', ''bonnine'' for the carers of three-year-olds in his system.^(TLFi) ''Chambre de bonne'', the maid's room under the roof, and the retort ''je ne suis pas ta bonne'' “I'm not your servant” remain current.^(Petit Robert 2007)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1708 – A term of affection, Furetière.^(GLLF 1989)^(Petit Robert 2007)

+ * 1762 – A children's nurse, Académie.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Grand Robert 2005)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A [[m|en|maid]], a live-in domestic servant: ''avoir une bonne'', ''chambre de bonne'', a maid's room.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Wiktionary)^(GLLF 1989)

+ # ''(dated)'' ''Bonne à tout faire'': a maid of all work, ''bonne d'enfants'', a [[m|en|nursemaid]].^(Petit Robert 2007)^(GLLF 1989)

+ # ''(familiar)'' ''Je ne suis pas ta bonne'': I'm not here to wait on you.^(Petit Robert 2007)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[bon]]

+ * [[boniche]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ ''Bonne'' is also the feminine of the adjective [[bon]]: ''elle est bien bonne !'' “that's a good one!” (1832).^(BHVF)^(Grand Robert 2005) ''À la bonne'' “in favour” belongs to the adjective.^(Grand Robert 2005)^(Petit Robert 2007)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}