conversation French · revision 17066

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1160, Benoît de Sainte-Maure|origins=la conversor}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /kɔ̃.vɛʁ.sa.sjɔ̃/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''conversation''' ''f'' (plural conversations)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|la|conversātiō|t=frequenting, dealings, intimacy]], from the supine of [[m|la|conversor|t=to associate with]] (see [[converser]]).^(TLFi)^(Grand Robert 2005)^(GLLF 1989)^(FEW|2, 1132b)

+

+ Cognate with [[it|conversazione]] and [[es|conversación]].^(Littré 1873)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Benoît de Sainte-Maure's ''Chronique des ducs de Normandie'' (about 1160) uses it for a way of life, a person's dealings with others: ''humle est sa conversations'' “humble is his manner of life”.^(TLFi)^(Littré 1873)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The old sense “way of life, dealings” lasted until the late 17th century; in medieval texts it also covered behaviour and a religious life, as in Anglo-Norman.^(TLFi)^(Littré 1873)^(AND) In classical French it also meant company kept and a social gathering (Académie, 1694).^(GLLF 1989)

+

+ The modern sense, an exchange of words, appears in the 16th century (1537 in the Petit Robert, 1563 in Palissy in the TLFi), and “manner of conversing” is recorded by the Académie in 1718.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(TLFi) From the 17th century the polite ''conversation'' of the salons became an art in itself, and the word later named secret or diplomatic talks.^(GLLF 1989)^(Petit Robert 2007)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1160 – “Way of life”, Benoît de Sainte-Maure.^(TLFi)

+ * 1537 – An exchange of words.^(Petit Robert 2007)

+ * 1563 – The same sense in Palissy.^(TLFi)

+ * 1675 – Last record of “dealings”, Widerhold.^(TLFi)

+ * 1694 – A company, a gathering, Académie.^(GLLF 1989)

+ * 1718 – “Manner of conversing”, Académie.^(TLFi)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A [[m|en|conversation]], talk; what is said in one: ''engager la conversation'', ''changer de conversation'', ''conversation téléphonique''.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(plural)'' Talks between a few responsible people, often in private: ''conversations diplomatiques''.^(Petit Robert 2007)

+ # Everyday spoken language: ''dans la conversation courante''; someone's way of talking: ''avoir de la conversation''.^(Petit Robert 2007)

+ # A small [[m|en|meringue]]-topped frangipane cake.^(Petit Robert 2007)

+ # ''(obsolete)'' Dealings, company kept.^(GLLF 1989)^(TLFi)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[converser]]

+ * [[la|conversatio]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}