éprouver French · revision 17033

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

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /e.pʁu.ve/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''éprouver'''^(Wiktionary)

+ Old French ''esprover'', ''esprouver'' (13th century); ''éprouver'' in Monet (1636).^(DHLF 1992)^(GLLF 1989)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is formed [[af|fr|é-|prouver]], with the intensive prefix “es-” from Latin [[m|la|ex-]].^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992)^(Grand Robert 2005)^(GLLF 1989)^(FEW|9, 405a) “Prouver” comes from [[la|probō|t=to test; to approve; to prove]], and itself meant “to put to the test” until the 16th century, especially in the participle.^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ Compare [[pro|esproar]].^(Littré 1873)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ In the ''Chanson de Roland'' (about 1100) the participle ''esprovet'' means “tested, proven”: ''de vasselage est esprovet'' “his valour has been proven”.^(TLFi)^(Littré 1873)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ From the 12th century it also meant to find out by personal experience (1155, Wace), with ''esprover que'' about 1175; in religion it was to tempt (13th century).^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992) In 1273 it came to mean “to feel” (a desire, tenderness), and in the 13th century to make someone suffer trials.^(DHLF 1992)^(GLLF 1989) Classical French used it with an adjective for “to find”, and, from 1718 it says of things that they suffer damage.^(DHLF 1992) Its noun [[épreuve]] dates from about 1175.^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1100 – ''Esprovet'' “proven”, ''Chanson de Roland''.^(TLFi)

+ * 1155 – “To find out”, Wace.^(TLFi)

+ * 1273 – “To feel”.^(DHLF 1992)^(GLLF 1989)

+ * 1636 – The spelling ''éprouver'', Monet.^(GLLF 1989)

+ * 1718 – To suffer damage.^(DHLF 1992)^(GLLF 1989)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To [[m|en|test]], try out: ''éprouver la résistance d'un matériau''; to put to the test: ''éprouver la fidélité d'un ami''.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To [[m|en|feel]], experience (a sensation or emotion): ''éprouver de la joie, une douleur''.^(DHLF 1992)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To go through, undergo: ''éprouver des difficultés''; to suffer (damage).^(Wiktionary)^(DHLF 1992)

+ # To afflict, make suffer: ''une région durement éprouvée''.^(DHLF 1992)^(GLLF 1989)

+ # ''Éprouvé'': proven, tried: ''un courage éprouvé''.^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[épreuve]]

+ * [[éprouvette]]

+ * [[éprouvant]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[prouver]]

+ * [[preuve]]

+ * [[la|probō]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}