pointe French · revision 16894

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=c. 1140, Pèlerinage de Charlemagne|origins=la pungo}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /pwɛ̃t/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''pointe''' ''f'' (plural pointes)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|la-lat|puncta|t=a thrust, stab]], recorded in the 4th century, the feminine past participle of [[m|la|pungō|t=to prick]] (see [[poindre]]) used as a noun.^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992)^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)^(GLLF 1989)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ Cognate with [[it|punta]], [[pro|poncha]], [[es|punta]] and [[pt|ponta]].^(Littré 1873)^(REW 1935)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The ''Pèlerinage de Charlemagne'' (about 1140) uses it for the sharp end of an object; the GLLF cites the ''Chanson de Guillaume'' (late 11th century) for the foremost part of an army.^(TLFi)^(GLLF 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ From the start it also meant, as the noun of [[poindre]], a charge, an attack (about 1155), a sense now lost except in some vestiges: in falconry, the swift rise and fall of a bird; at the riding school, a horse's swerve;^(DHLF 1992)^(TLFi) ''faire une pointe'', to make a detour (1798); and a military thrust deep into enemy ground (1835).^(DHLF 1992)^(TLFi) ''La pointe du jour'' “daybreak” (1174–1176) has been displaced by ''le point du jour''.^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ By extension it named any tapering end: a strip of land (1306), the toe of a shoe (1452), the top of a steeple or mountain (about 1460); ''sur la pointe des pieds'' “on tiptoe” is from 1669, and dancers' ''pointes'' from 1842.^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992) A sharp pain (1225–1230), a cutting remark (1604) and a witticism or pun (1580, Montaigne) are figurative senses.^(TLFi) Concretely it named many pointed things: a graving tool (1538), ''pointe sèche'' (1765), a long headless nail (1680), the spines of a hedgehog (1562), a triangular piece of cloth (1520) or scarf.^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992) ''Avoir une pointe'' “to be tipsy” dates from 1867.^(BHVF) Modern ''de pointe'' “advanced”, as in ''technologie de pointe'', and ''heure de pointe'' “rush hour” come from the idea of the most advanced part.^(DHLF 1992)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1140 – A sharp end, in the ''Pèlerinage de Charlemagne''.^(TLFi)

+ * c. 1155 – A charge, attack.^(DHLF 1992)

+ * 1174–1176 – ''La puinte del jur'' “daybreak”.^(TLFi)

+ * 1306 – A tapering strip of land, in Joinville.^(TLFi)

+ * 1580 – A witticism, in Montaigne.^(TLFi)

+ * 1604 – A cutting remark, in Montchrestien.^(TLFi)

+ * 1669 – ''Marcher sur la pointe des pieds''.^(TLFi)

+ * 1680 – A headless nail, in Richelet.^(TLFi)

+ * 1842 – Dancers' ''pointes''.^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A [[m|en|point]], the sharp end (of a needle, a knife, a nail): ''pointe d'une aiguille'', ''à la pointe de l'épée'', by force.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Wiktionary)

+ # The tapering end of something: ''la pointe d'un clocher'', ''sur la pointe des pieds'', on tiptoe; a [[m|en|headland]].^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992)^(Petit Robert 2007)

+ # A pointed tool; a long thin [[m|en|nail]] with little or no head.^(TLFi)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(ballet)'' ''Faire des pointes'': to dance on points.^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992)

+ # A cutting remark; a witticism.^(TLFi)

+ # A touch, a small amount: ''une pointe d'ail'', ''une pointe d'ironie''.^(Wiktionary)

+ # The leading or most advanced part: ''de pointe'', cutting-edge, ''heure de pointe'', rush hour, ''à la pointe de''.^(DHLF 1992)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(military)'' A thrust into enemy territory, ''faire une pointe'', to make a detour.^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[pointer]]

+ * [[pointu]]

+ * [[épointer]]

+ * [[pointillé]]

+ * [[appointer]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[point]]

+ * [[poindre]]

+ * [[poignard]]

+ * [[la|pungō]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}