mesure French · revision 17083

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

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /mə.zyʁ/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''mesure''' ''f'' (plural mesures)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|la|mēnsūra|t=measuring; measure, size; degree; standard]], from [[m|la|mēnsum]], supine of [[m|la|mētior|t=to measure]].^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992)^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)^(Grand Robert 2005)^(FEW|6/1, 717a) Rey connects “mētior” with [[grc|μῆτις|tr=mêtis|t=cunning, wisdom]] and [[sa|माति|tr=māti|t=exact knowledge, measure]].^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ Cognate with [[ro|măsură]], [[it|misura]], [[es|mesura]] and [[pt|mesura]], Spanish uses “medida” for the concrete sense.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The ''Chanson de Roland'' (about 1100) already has the main senses: an estimate of size, degree (''en quel mesure''), and moderation (''mieux valt mesure que ne fait estultie'').^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992)^(Littré 1873)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In Old French ''mesure'' also meant a vessel of standard capacity (Wace, about 1150), a measuring rod (Marie de France, about 1180) and a grain measure, and Philippe de Thaon (1121–23) used it for manner.^(TLFi) Moderation was a key value of courtly culture, and ''sans mesure'' “to excess” is from the early 12th century.^(TLFi)^(Littré 1873)

+

+ Proportion gave ''à mesure'' (13th century), ''à mesure que'' (1379) and ''dans la mesure où'' (1876).^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992) ''Faire bonne mesure'' is from 1550, ''la mesure est comble'' from 1671, and ''deux poids, deux mesures'' from the Académie of 1718.^(TLFi) In music it meant keeping time (1377) and then the bar (1538).^(TLFi) ''Prendre ses mesures'' “to take steps” is in Oudin (1640), whence ''mesure'' “measure, step taken”.^(TLFi) ''Sur mesure'' “made to measure” is from 1874.^(GLLF 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1100 – Estimate, degree and moderation, ''Chanson de Roland''.^(TLFi)

+ * c. 1150 – A measuring vessel, Wace.^(TLFi)

+ * 1377 – ''Par mesure'', in time (music).^(TLFi)

+ * 1379 – ''A mesure que''.^(TLFi)

+ * 1538 – ''Prendre la mesure de''; the musical bar.^(TLFi)

+ * 1640 – ''Prendre ses mesures'', Oudin.^(TLFi)

+ * 1876 – ''Dans la mesure où''.^(TLFi)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # [[m|en|measurement]]: ''la mesure d'une distance'', ''prendre les mesures de qqn'', ''sur mesure'', made to measure.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A unit of measure: ''mesures de longueur''.^(TLFi)^(Petit Robert 2007)

+ # A step, [[m|en|measure]]: ''prendre des mesures'', ''mesures de sécurité''.^(Wiktionary)^(TLFi)

+ # Extent, degree: ''dans une certaine mesure'', ''dans la mesure où'', ''être en mesure de'', to be in a position to.^(Wiktionary)^(DHLF 1992)

+ # [[m|en|moderation]]: ''avec mesure'', ''outre mesure'', excessively, ''dépasser la mesure''.^(TLFi)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(music)'' A [[m|en|bar]]; time: ''battre la mesure''.^(Wiktionary)^(TLFi)

+ # ''À mesure que'', ''au fur et à mesure'': as, progressively.^(Wiktionary)^(TLFi)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[mesurer]]

+ * [[démesure]]

+ * [[démesuré]]

+ * [[demi-mesure]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[mètre]]

+ * [[immense]]

+ * [[la|mēnsūra]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}