jeunesse French · revision 16800

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=1155, Wace, Brut (juenvlesce)|origins=la iuvenis}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ʒœ.nɛs/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''jeunesse''' ''f'' (plural jeunesses)^(Wiktionary)

+ Old French ''juenvlesce'' (1155), ''joefnesce'' (about 1160–70), ''junesce'', ''jonesce'', ''jeunesse'' from the 14th century.^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992)^(GLLF 1989)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is formed [[af|fr|jeune|-esse]], on the old forms of the adjective,^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992)^(Grand Robert 2005)^(GLLF 1989)^(Wiktionary)^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989) like [[sagesse]] from [[sage]].^(Littré 1873) [[jeune]] continues [[la|iuvenis|t=young]].^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989) Wiktionary considers a Vulgar Latin [[m|la-vul|*iuvenitia]] less likely; the TLFi follows the FEW in seeing the sense “young girl” as originally a feminine form of the adjective.^(Wiktionary)^(TLFi) Compare [[ro|junețe]] and [[it|giovinezza]].^(REW 1935)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Wace's ''Brut'' (1155) uses ''juenvlesce'' for the period of life between childhood and maturity, and for the state of being young.^(TLFi)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In Old French it also meant an act worthy of a young person (about 1250), often close to “folly, rash deed”, and pejoratively ''ses pechiez et ses jeunesses'' (second half of the 14th century); Adam de la Halle has ''joneche'' “inexperience”.^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992) From Montaigne (1588) it is said of youthfulness kept into old age.^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ Collectively, ''la jeunesse'' is the young (1377, ''Miracles de Notre-Dame''), and familiarly ''une jeunesse'' a young girl (Vauquelin de La Fresnaye, before 1605, Racine, 1668).^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992) ''Il faut que jeunesse se passe'' is in Madame de Sévigné (1683), and ''n'être plus de la première jeunesse'' is found in 1792.^(GLLF 1989)^(BHVF)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1155 – ''Juenvlesce'', Wace.^(TLFi)

+ * c. 1250 – “A youthful act”.^(TLFi)

+ * Third third of the 13th century – “Inexperience”, Adam de la Halle.^(TLFi)

+ * 1377 – “The young” collectively.^(TLFi)

+ * 1588 – Youthfulness in old age, Montaigne.^(TLFi)

+ * Before 1605 – “A young girl”.^(TLFi)

+ * 1683 – ''Il faut que jeunesse se passe'', Madame de Sévigné.^(GLLF 1989)

+ * 1792 – ''Pas de la première jeunesse''.^(BHVF)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # [[m|en|youth]], the time of life between childhood and maturity: ''dans ma jeunesse'', ''erreur de jeunesse'', ''n'être plus de la première jeunesse'', to be no longer young.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Wiktionary)

+ # The state of being young; [[m|en|youthfulness]], freshness, vigour.^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992)

+ # ''La jeunesse'': young people.^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992)

+ # ''(familiar, dated)'' ''Une jeunesse'': a young girl.^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992)

+ # ''Il faut que jeunesse se passe'': youth must have its fling.^(GLLF 1989)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[jeune]]

+ * [[jouvence]]

+ * [[juvénile]]

+ * [[rajeunir]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}