centre French · revision 17016

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1275, Jean de Meun, Roman de la Rose|origins=grc κεντέω}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /sɑ̃tʁ/^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (France): [sɒ̃tʁ̞]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (France): [sɒ̃tχ]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''centre''' ''m'' (plural centres)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|la|centrum|t=point of a pair of compasses; centre of a circle]], [[bor|grc|κέντρον|tr=kéntron|t=goad, sting; centre of a circle]].^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992)^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)^(Grand Robert 2005)^(FEW|2, 586a)^(Wiktionary) The Greek word comes from [[m|grc|κεντέω|tr=kentéō|t=to goad, prick]]; the geometrical sense came from the point of the compasses stuck into the spot around which the circle is drawn.^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992)^(Littré 1873) Rey compares only scattered forms such as [[goh|hantag|t=pointed]], and notes that [[cy|cethr|t=nail]] and [[ga|cinteir]] are taken from the Latin word.^(DHLF 1992) The sports sense is a calque of [[en|centre-half]], recorded in a French text in 1916.^(TLFi)

+

+ Cognate with [[oc|centre]], [[es|centro]] and [[it|centro]].^(Littré 1873)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Jean de Meun's ''Roman de la Rose'' (about 1275) uses it figuratively for the point inside a circle or sphere at an equal distance from all points of its circumference or surface.^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In the 14th century it also meant, more loosely, the middle of any space (''centre du monde''), while geometry gave it its strict sense in 1529 (Geoffroy Tory).^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992) The army had its ''centre'' from 1690 (Furetière), and politics from the 1820s, by the seating of assemblies: ''centre droit'' (1821), ''centre gauche'' (1822), whence ''centriste'' and ''centrisme''.^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ From the 17th century it is a place where things gather or from which they spread (1638, Rotrou, Paris ''le centre du bon goût'', 1659, Molière), and, from 1839–42 a town or conurbation.^(TLFi) Physics has ''centre de gravité'' (1680) and anatomy ''centre nerveux'' (1845).^(DHLF 1992)^(TLFi) In football it is a player in the middle of the line (1924, Montherlant), after English.^(TLFi)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1275 – Jean de Meun, ''Roman de la Rose''.^(TLFi)

+ * 14th century – ''Centre du monde''; the middle of any space.^(TLFi)

+ * 1529 – The geometrical sense, Geoffroy Tory.^(TLFi)

+ * 1659 – Paris ''le centre du bon goût'', Molière.^(TLFi)

+ * 1690 – The centre of an army, Furetière.^(TLFi)^(GLLF 1989)

+ * 1821–1822 – ''Centre droit'', ''centre gauche''.^(TLFi)

+ * 1845 – ''Centre nerveux''.^(TLFi)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # The [[m|en|centre]] of a circle or sphere; the central point of a figure.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Wiktionary)

+ # The middle part of a space: ''le centre de la France''; the town centre: ''habiter (dans) le centre''.^(Petit Robert 2007)

+ # A place where activities are concentrated: ''centre commercial'', ''centre culturel'', ''centre d'appels''.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Wiktionary)

+ # The main point; the focus: ''être au centre de l'attention'', ''centre d'intérêt''.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(GLLF 1989)

+ # ''(politics)'' The parties between left and right: ''centre droit'', ''centre gauche''.^(DHLF 1992)^(Petit Robert 2007)

+ # ''(physics, anatomy)'' ''Centre de gravité'', ''centres nerveux''.^(TLFi)^(Petit Robert 2007)

+ # ''(football)'' A centre player; a [[m|en|cross]] into the penalty area.^(TLFi)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[central]]

+ * [[centrer]]

+ * [[concentrer]]

+ * [[décentrer]]

+ * [[concentrique]]

+ * [[excentrique]]

+ * [[centrisme]]

+ * [[centriste]]

+ * [[centre-ville]]

+ * [[égocentrisme]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[centrafricain]]

+ * [[centrage]]

+ * [[centraliser]]

+ * [[centrifuge]]

+ * [[centripète]]

+ * [[la|centrum]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}