connaissance French · revision 16982

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=c. 1100, Chanson de Roland|origins=la nosco}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /kɔ.nɛ.sɑ̃s/^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA: /kɔ.ne.sɑ̃s/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''connaissance''' ''f'' (plural connaissances)^(Wiktionary)

+ Old French [[m|fro|conoissance]] (about 1100), ''cognoissance'' (about 1265), ''connoissance'' (1283), ''congnoissance'' (1491); ''connaissance'' in the 17th century.^(TLFi)^(GLLF 1989) Palsgrave notes that ''cognoissance'' was pronounced ''conoisance''.^(Littré 1873)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is formed from the stem of the present participle of [[connaître]] with the suffix [[-ance]].^(TLFi)^(Grand Robert 2005)^(GLLF 1989) Wiktionary instead derives the Old French [[m|fro|conoissance]] from [[la-lat|cognōscentia]], from [[la|cognōscēns]], the present participle of [[m|la|cognōscō|t=to get to know]],^(Wiktionary) a compound of [[m|la|nōscō|t=to know]].^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)

+

+ Compare [[pro|conoissensa]], [[ca|conexensa]], [[osp|conocencia]] and [[it|conoscenza]].^(Littré 1873)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The ''Chanson de Roland'' (about 1100) has ''conoisance'' “act of knowing; notion of something”,^(TLFi) and also the plural ''cunoisances'' for the devices on knights' shields, by which they were recognized.^(Littré 1873)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It meant “the faculty of knowing” about 1265 (Brunetto Latini), and in law the right to judge certain persons or cases (Beaumanoir, 1283).^(TLFi) ''En connaissance de cause'' (1409) was first a legal phrase.^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989) Commynes uses it for experience or skill (1491), and Montaigne the plural for the body of what one knows (1595).^(TLFi) From before 1650 (Vaugelas) it is also consciousness, as in ''perdre connaissance''.^(TLFi)

+

+ Of people it meant a relationship with someone (1494) and also sexual relations (1554).^(TLFi) A ''connaissance'', a person one knows, is in Pascal's ''Provinciales'' (1656), but already in Peiresc's letters in 1628;^(TLFi)^(BHVF) a Geneva glossary of 1852 records the popular sense “sweetheart”.^(TLFi) ''Être en pays de connaissance'' “to be among familiar people” is in Furetière (1690).^(BHVF)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1100 – ''Conoisance'' in the ''Chanson de Roland''.^(TLFi)

+ * c. 1265 – “Faculty of knowing”, in Brunetto Latini.^(TLFi)

+ * 1283 – A judge's competence, in Beaumanoir.^(TLFi)

+ * 1409 – ''En connaissance de cause''.^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)

+ * 1494 – A relationship with someone.^(TLFi)

+ * 1595 – The plural for learning, in Montaigne.^(TLFi)

+ * 1628 – A person one knows, in Peiresc.^(BHVF)

+ * Before 1650 – Consciousness, in Vaugelas.^(TLFi)

+ * 1690 – ''Être en pays de connaissance''.^(BHVF)

+ * 1823 – ''Faire connaissance avec quelque chose''.^(TLFi)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # [[m|en|knowledge|alt=Knowledge]] of something: ''Il a une bonne connaissance de l'anglais'', ''à ma connaissance'', as far as I know, ''en connaissance de cause'', with full knowledge of the facts.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(philosophy)'' The act or faculty of knowing; [[m|en|cognition]].^(GLLF 1989)^(TLFi)

+ # ''Connaissances'' (plural): what one has learned, learning.^(TLFi)^(Petit Robert 2007)

+ # [[m|en|consciousness|alt=Consciousness]]: ''perdre connaissance'', to faint, ''reprendre connaissance'', to come round.^(TLFi)^(Wiktionary)

+ # [[m|en|acquaintance|alt=Acquaintance]] with a person: ''faire la connaissance de quelqu'un''; also a person one knows.^(Wiktionary)^(TLFi)

+ # ''Prendre connaissance de'': to examine, acquaint oneself with (a document).^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[connaisseur]]

+ * [[connaître]]

+ * [[savoir]]

+ * [[reconnaissance]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}