profond French · revision 17051

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=c. 1100, Chanson de Roland (parfunt)|origins=la fundus}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /pʁɔ.fɔ̃/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''profond''' (feminine profonde, masculine plural profonds, feminine plural profondes)^(Wiktionary)

+ Old French ''parfunt'', ''parfont'' (about 1100); ''profond'' from the late 14th century, with a few earlier isolated records.^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992)^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|fro|parfunt]], [[inh|la|profundus|t=deep; dense; boundless]] with a change of prefix, remade under the influence of the Latin word, “profundus” is formed from [[m|la|prō-]] and [[m|la|fundus|t=bottom]] (see [[fond]]).^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992)^(Grand Robert 2005)^(GLLF 1989)^(Wiktionary)^(FEW|9, 433b) Because “par-” was felt as the intensive prefix “very” and “-funt” as a simple adjective, “parfond” gave way to “profond”; it survives in the dialects of the north-east.^(TLFi)^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)

+

+ [[pro|preon]] and “pregon” come straight from “profundus” with the first vowel dissimilated to /e/.^(TLFi)^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989) Compare [[es|profundo]] and [[it|profondo]].^(Littré 1873)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ In the ''Chanson de Roland'' (about 1100) ''parfunt'' describes deep valleys: ''Li val parfunt et les ewes courant''.^(TLFi)^(Littré 1873) The new form ''profond'' is used by Oresme (late 14th century) of water whose bottom is far from the surface.^(TLFi)^(GLLF 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It was soon used of ditches (1476), of wounds that go deep (1492), of what lies far below ground (1580) and of a body of troops drawn up in depth (1559, Amyot).^(TLFi) Figuratively it described a mind that goes to the bottom of things (about 1480), ''sciences profondes'' “great learning” (1534, Rabelais), a scholar (1636), an intense and lasting feeling (1524–1527) and an extreme state such as ''ennui profond'' (1668).^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ As a noun ''le profond'' “the deepest part” dates from 1529; in thieves' slang of 1790 a ''profonde'' was a pocket.^(TLFi) In Belgian French an ''assiette profonde'' is a soup plate.^(DHLF 1992) The adverb [[profondément]] and the noun [[profondeur]] (1377, earlier ''parfondor'') go with it.^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1100 – ''Parfunt'', ''Chanson de Roland''.^(TLFi)

+ * late 14th century – ''Profond'', Oresme.^(TLFi)

+ * 1492 – ''Playes profondes'' “deep wounds”.^(TLFi)

+ * 1524–1527 – A deep feeling, Gringore.^(TLFi)

+ * 1534 – ''Sciences profundes'', Rabelais.^(TLFi)

+ * 1668 – ''Ennui profond''.^(TLFi)

+ * 1790 – Slang ''profonde'' “pocket”.^(TLFi)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # [[m|en|deep]]: ''un puits profond'', ''eaux peu profondes''; going far below the surface: ''une blessure profonde''.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Extending far back: ''une armoire profonde''.^(TLFi)^(Petit Robert 2007)

+ # [[m|en|profound]]: going to the heart of things: ''un esprit profond'', ''une pensée profonde''.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Intense, extreme: ''un profond respect'', ''un sommeil profond''; dark, rich (of a colour): ''un bleu profond''.^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992)

+ # Rural, provincial, ''the heartland'': ''la France profonde''.^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # ''(literary)'' The depths: ''au plus profond de la forêt''.^(TLFi)^(Petit Robert 2007)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[approfondir]]

+ * [[profondément]]

+ * [[profondeur]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[fond]]

+ * [[parfond]]

+ * [[la|profundus]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}