attaquer French · revision 17105

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1540 (attacquer)|origins=it attaccare}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /a.ta.ke/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''attaquer'''^(Wiktionary)

+ ''Attacquer'' (1540), ''attaquer'' (1578).^(Grand Robert 2005)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|it|attaccare|t=to attach; to begin; to attack]], a military term, as in “attaccare battaglia” “to join battle” and “attaccare la scaramuccia”, which Rabelais rendered ''attaquer l'escarmouche'' (1549).^(DHLF 1992)^(Grand Robert 2005)^(GLLF 1989)^(FEW|17, 202a) The Italian verb is as obscure as French [[attacher]], its doublet, whose Picard form “attaquer” had also taken this sense.^(DHLF 1992)^(Grand Robert 2005)^(Wiktionary) It is usually traced to Germanic, through [[it|tacca|t=notch]], from Gothic, or through a word for a stake, but neither explanation is satisfactory in sense.^(DHLF 1992)^(Petit Robert 2007) Pierre Guiraud derived both verbs from a Vulgar Latin derivative of [[la|attingō|t=to reach]].^(DHLF 1992) Littré held that “attaquer” was simply the Picard and Flemish pronunciation of “attacher”.^(Littré 1873)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ It is first found in 1540, as a reflexive verb (''s'attaquer à''); the Petit Robert dates the transitive “to strike the first blows at an enemy” to 1578.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Henri Estienne criticized it as an Italianism (''attaquer, d'attacher qui est le vray mot et nayf''), but it soon prevailed.^(DHLF 1992)^(Littré 1873) Abstract uses appear in the mid-17th century: of an illness seizing someone, of criticizing someone sharply, and of tackling a task or subject (Madame de Sévigné, 1675).^(DHLF 1992) Law has ''attaquer qqn en justice'' (Marivaux, 1735), fencing has its own sense (1859), and of things it means to eat away (''la rouille attaque le fer'').^(DHLF 1992)^(GLLF 1989) Familiarly ''attaquer'' a dish is to start eating it (1825).^(BHVF)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1540 – ''S'attacquer''.^(Grand Robert 2005)^(DHLF 1992)

+ * 1549 – ''Attaquer l'escarmouche'', Rabelais.^(DHLF 1992)

+ * 1578 – To attack an enemy.^(Grand Robert 2005)^(Petit Robert 2007)

+ * 1675 – To tackle (a subject), Madame de Sévigné.^(DHLF 1992)

+ * 1735 – ''Attaquer en justice'', Marivaux.^(DHLF 1992)

+ * 1825 – To start eating.^(BHVF)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To [[m|en|attack]], assail: ''attaquer l'ennemi'', ''(absolute)'' to launch an attack.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To attack in words, criticize, ''attaquer qqn en justice'', to sue.^(DHLF 1992)^(Petit Robert 2007)

+ # To eat away, [[m|en|corrode]], damage: ''la rouille attaque le fer''.^(Wiktionary)^(GLLF 1989)

+ # To tackle, begin (a task, a subject); ''(familiar)'' to start on (a dish).^(Wiktionary)^(DHLF 1992)

+ # ''S'attaquer à'': to attack; to tackle (a problem).^(Petit Robert 2007)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[attaque]]

+ * [[attaquant]]

+ * [[contre-attaquer]]

+ * [[inattaquable]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[attaqueur]]

+ * [[attacher]]

+ * [[it|attaccare]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}