forcer French · revision 17007

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=11th century|origins=la fortis}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /fɔʁ.se/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''forcer'''^(Wiktionary)

+ Old French ''forcier'' (11th century); ''forcer'' from the 13th century.^(GLLF 1989)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|fro|forcier]], [[inh|la-vul|*fortiō]], from [[la-lat|fortia|t=strength]], the source of [[force]], from [[la|fortis|t=strong]].^(TLFi)^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)^(Grand Robert 2005)^(FEW|3, 729a)^(Wiktionary) The TLFi calls the Vulgar Latin verb probable.^(TLFi)

+

+ Cognate with [[it|forzare]], [[oc|forsar]], [[ca|forçar]], [[es|forzar]] and [[pt|forçar]].^(REW 1935)^(Littré 1873)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ According to the FEW it is used in the 11th century for violating a woman; the general sense “to compel by force” is in the ''Chanson d'Antioche'' (about 1200).^(TLFi)^(Grand Robert 2005)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In about 1230 it means to take a military position by storm (Montaigne: ''Alexandre forçant la ville de Gaza''), in Charles d'Orléans (mid-15th century) to put moral pressure on someone, and in Marguerite de Navarre to master one's own feelings (''forcer sa complexion'').^(TLFi)^(Littré 1873) ''Forcer la porte'' and ''forcer un animal'' “to run down game” are recorded in 1573.^(TLFi)

+

+ The idea of pushing beyond the normal gave ''plantes forcées'' “forced plants” (1605, Olivier de Serres), ''forcer son talent'' (1668, La Fontaine), ''forcer son style'' (1690) and the absolute use “to strain, make a great effort” (1859, of the wind).^(TLFi) Corneille has ''forcer à'' (1636) and Racine ''être forcé de'' (1669); ''forcer la main à quelqu'un'' dates from the late 17th century (Saint-Simon).^(GLLF 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 11th century – “To violate (a woman)”, according to the FEW.^(TLFi)

+ * c. 1200 – “To compel by force”.^(TLFi)

+ * c. 1230 – To take a position by storm.^(TLFi)

+ * 1573 – ''Forcer la porte'', ''forcer un animal''.^(TLFi)

+ * 1636 – ''Forcer à'', Corneille.^(GLLF 1989)

+ * 1668 – ''Forcer son talent'', La Fontaine.^(TLFi)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To [[m|en|force]] open, break: ''forcer une porte, une serrure''; to force one's way through: ''forcer un barrage''.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To compel: ''forcer quelqu'un à partir'', ''être forcé de'', to be obliged to, ''forcer la main à quelqu'un''.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(GLLF 1989)

+ # To push beyond the normal: ''forcer l'allure'', ''forcer la dose'', ''(horticulture)'' to force (plants).^(Petit Robert 2007)^(TLFi)

+ # ''(hunting)'' To run down (game).^(TLFi)^(Petit Robert 2007)

+ # To win by effort: ''forcer l'admiration, le respect''.^(Petit Robert 2007)

+ # ''(intransitive)'' To strain, make a great effort: ''ne pas forcer''.^(TLFi)^(Petit Robert 2007)

+ # ''Se forcer'': to force oneself.^(Petit Robert 2007)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[forcé]]

+ * [[forcément]]

+ * [[forçage]]

+ * [[forcerie]]

+ * [[efforcer]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[force]]

+ * [[fort]]

+ * [[effort]]

+ * [[la|fortis]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}