trait French · revision 16828

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=late 11th century, Chanson de Guillaume|origins=la trahō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /tʁɛ/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''trait''' ''m'' (plural traits)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|fro|trait]], [[inh|la|tractus|t=a drawing, pulling; a trail, line; slow movement; extent of time]],^(DHLF 1992)^(Grand Robert 2005)^(GLLF 1989)^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)^(FEW|13/2, 148a)^(Wiktionary) the action noun of [[m|la|trahō|t=to draw, pull]] (see [[traire]]).^(DHLF 1992)^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989) The Petit Robert adds that some senses come from the past participle of that verb, and Littré explains the word as that participle in the sense “drawn”.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Littré 1873)

+

+ Compare [[pro|trait]], [[it|tratto]] and [[es|trecho|t=distance; stretch of time]].^(Littré 1873)^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Rey dates the word to the late 11th century, first for drinking in one go and the amount drunk at once; the ''Chanson de Guillaume'' (late 11th century) is the first record the GLLF gives.^(DHLF 1992)^(GLLF 1989) ''À grant trait'' is in ''Eneas'' (about 1130), and ''Aliscans'' (about 1185) has ''À moult grans trait le fort vin englotir'', “to gulp down the strong wine in great draughts”.^(GLLF 1989)^(Littré 1873)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The idea of time gave ''a trait'' “slowly” (about 1175), ''d'un même trait'' (1530) and ''d'un trait'' “at one go” (1681), and in music a passage of rapid notes (1835); in the old liturgy the ''trait'' was a shortened psalm sung at Mass (1374).^(DHLF 1992)^(GLLF 1989) The idea of pulling survives in ''de trait'', as in ''cheval de trait'' “draught horse” (1549), and in the traces of a harness (13th century).^(DHLF 1992) In ''Eneas'' (about 1160) ''trait d'une arbaleste'' is the range of a crossbow shot, ''gens de trait'' were archers (1417–22) and, from the late 15th century the word meant an arrow or dart.^(TLFi)^(Petit Robert 2007)

+

+ As in Latin it meant a drawn line (13th century, Villard de Honnecourt), a use that developed from the 16th century, and the lines of the face (1538), whence ''traits'' “features”.^(DHLF 1992)^(TLFi)^(GLLF 1989) The figurative sense “act, deed” is in ''Eneas'' (''les traiz d'amer''), whence ''jouer un trait'' “to play a trick” (1587), ''trait d'esprit'' (Corneille, 1635) and ''trait de caractère'' (Marivaux, 1737).^(TLFi) ''Avoir trait à'' “to relate to” is recorded in 1579.^(TLFi)^(GLLF 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * Late 11th century – First record, ''Chanson de Guillaume''.^(GLLF 1989)

+ * c. 1130 – ''À grant trait'', ''Eneas''.^(GLLF 1989)

+ * c. 1160 – “Range of a shot” and “deed”, ''Eneas''.^(TLFi)

+ * 13th century – A drawn line, Villard de Honnecourt.^(GLLF 1989)^(Littré 1873)

+ * 1538 – ''Le traict du visage'', Robert Estienne.^(TLFi)

+ * 1549 – ''Cheval de trait''.^(DHLF 1992)

+ * 1579 – ''Avoir trait à''.^(TLFi)

+ * 1635 – ''Trait d'esprit'', Corneille.^(TLFi)

+ * 1681 – ''D'un trait'', Madame de Sévigné.^(GLLF 1989)

+ * 1737 – ''Trait de caractère'', Marivaux.^(TLFi)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A [[m|en|line]], a stroke drawn with a pen or pencil, ''trait d'union'', a [[m|en|hyphen]], ''à grands traits'', in broad outline.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Wiktionary)^(TLFi)^(GLLF 1989)

+ # ''Traits'': the lines of the face, [[m|en|features]].^(Petit Robert 2007)^(TLFi)

+ # A characteristic, a [[m|en|trait]]: ''trait de caractère''; a notable act: ''trait d'esprit''.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Wiktionary)^(TLFi)

+ # ''Avoir trait à'': to relate to, concern.^(TLFi)^(GLLF 1989)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(literary)'' An arrow, a dart; figuratively, a cutting remark.^(Petit Robert 2007)

+ # A [[m|en|draught]], a gulp: ''boire à longs traits'', ''d'un trait''.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(DHLF 1992)

+ # ''De trait'': for pulling: ''cheval de trait'', draught horse, ''(dated)'' a trace of a harness.^(DHLF 1992)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(music)'' A run of rapid notes, ''(liturgy)'' the tract sung at Mass.^(DHLF 1992)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(chess, draughts)'' The first move: ''avoir le trait''.^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[trait d'union]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[traire]]

+ * [[traiter]]

+ * [[traité]]

+ * [[traite]]

+ * [[traction]]

+ * [[la|tractus]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}