attaque French · revision 16876

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=back-formation|attested=1596|origins=it attaccare}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /a.tak/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''attaque''' ''f'' (plural attaques)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is a deverbal noun [[der|fr|attaquer]].^(Grand Robert 2005)^(Petit Robert 2007)^(GLLF 1989)^(Wiktionary) The verb (1540) is a military borrowing of [[it|attaccare|t=to attack; to join]], used in phrases such as “attaccare battaglia” “to join battle” and “attaccare la scaramuccia”, which Rabelais borrowed as ''attaquer l'escarmouche'' (1549).^(DHLF 1992)^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)^(Etymonline) Rey finds the Italian verb as obscure as [[attacher]], whose Picard variant had taken on the sense of the Italianism.^(DHLF 1992) It is usually traced to Germanic, through a word for a notch or for a stake, but Rey finds neither explanation satisfactory;^(DHLF 1992)^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989) Guiraud derived the Italian and French verbs from a Vulgar Latin derivative of [[la|attingō|t=to touch, reach]].^(DHLF 1992)^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)

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+ [[en|attack]] comes from the French verb.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ It first appears in 1596 in the sense of a violent criticism, a verbal attack; the military sense is recorded by Cotgrave in 1611, though it must be older.^(DHLF 1992)^(Grand Robert 2005)^(GLLF 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It has special uses in fencing (1751) and sports (1901), where it also names the attacking players, and in the vocabulary of crime (''attaque à main armée'').^(DHLF 1992)^(GLLF 1989) From the idea of beginning came uses in music, the attack of a note, and in technology, as in ''bord d'attaque'' of an aircraft wing.^(DHLF 1992) Figuratively it is the sudden onset of an illness (1669), as in ''attaque cérébrale'', a stroke.^(DHLF 1992)^(Wiktionary) ''Être d'attaque'' “to be in good form” (late 19th century) meant first “to be ready to tackle a job”.^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1540 – The verb ''attaquer''.^(DHLF 1992)

+ * 1596 – ''Attaque'' “violent criticism”.^(DHLF 1992)^(Grand Robert 2005)

+ * 1611 – A military attack, in Cotgrave.^(DHLF 1992)^(GLLF 1989)

+ * 1669 – The onset of an illness.^(DHLF 1992)

+ * 1751 – In fencing.^(DHLF 1992)

+ * 1901 – In sports.^(DHLF 1992)

+ * late 19th century – ''Être d'attaque''.^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # An [[m|en|attack]], [[m|en|assault]]: ''passer à l'attaque'', ''attaque aérienne'', ''attaque à main armée'', armed robbery.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(GLLF 1989)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(fencing, sports)'' An attacking move; the attacking players, the forwards.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(DHLF 1992)

+ # A verbal attack, a sharp criticism.^(DHLF 1992)^(GLLF 1989)

+ # A sudden fit, onset (of an illness): ''attaque cérébrale'', a stroke.^(DHLF 1992)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(music)'' The attack of a note, ''(phonology)'' the onset of a syllable.^(DHLF 1992)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(familiar)'' ''Être d'attaque'': to be in good form.^(DHLF 1992)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[attaquer]]

+ * [[inattaquable]]

+ * [[it|attaccare]]

+ * [[en|attack]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}