allumer French · revision 17110

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

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /a.ly.me/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''allumer'''^(Wiktionary)

+ Old French [[m|fro|alumer]].^(Wiktionary)^(Littré 1873)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|fro|alumer]], [[inh|la-vul|*allūminō|t=to light up]], from [[m|la|ad-]] and [[la|lūminō|t=to light up]], from [[m|la|lūmen|t=light]].^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992)^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)^(Grand Robert 2005)^(FEW|24, 340a) The original sense “to light up” is found in Old French and survives in eastern dialects.^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)^(GLLF 1989)

+

+ Cognate with [[it|alluminare]], [[pro|alumenar]], [[es|alumbrar]] and [[pt|alumiar]].^(REW 1935)^(Littré 1873)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The ''Chanson de Roland'' (about 1100) has ''alumer'' in the sense “to set fire to”: ''Mirre et timoine i firent alumer''.^(TLFi)^(Littré 1873)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The sense “to set fire to” early drove out its competitors, Old French ''esprendre'' and ''afouer'' (from ''fou'', fire), which survive only in Lorraine and French-speaking Switzerland.^(DHLF 1992)^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989) Chrétien de Troyes (1164) uses it figuratively for inflaming the senses, ''allumer la guerre'' and similar phrases stir up feelings or conflict.^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ ''Allumer une lampe'' led to the absolute ''allumer'' “to put the light on” (12th century), then in the 20th century to switching on electric light (Académie, 1932), and later a radio or other apparatus.^(DHLF 1992) Racine (1689) used it for making the face flush.^(DHLF 1992) The familiar sense “to arouse (a man)” goes back to the early 17th century (Malherbe), and gave [[allumeuse]] “tease”.^(DHLF 1992)^(Petit Robert 2007)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1100 – “To set fire to”, ''Chanson de Roland''.^(TLFi)

+ * 1164 – To inflame (a person), Chrétien de Troyes.^(TLFi)

+ * 1213 – The derivative ''allumette''.^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)

+ * 1845 – ''Allumer une pipe''.^(DHLF 1992)

+ * 1932 – ''Allumer l'électricité'', Académie.^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To [[m|en|light]], set alight: ''allumer une bougie'', ''une cigarette'', ''le feu''.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To switch on (a light, an appliance): ''allumer la lumière'', ''la télé'', ''(absolute)'' to put the light on.^(Wiktionary)^(DHLF 1992)

+ # To stir up, kindle (a feeling, a conflict): ''allumer la guerre''.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(GLLF 1989)

+ # ''(familiar)'' To [[m|en|arouse]], lead on (someone).^(Wiktionary)^(Petit Robert 2007)

+ # ''S'allumer'': to catch fire; to come on (of a light); to light up (of eyes).^(Wiktionary)^(Petit Robert 2007)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[allumage]]

+ * [[allume-cigare]]

+ * [[allume-feu]]

+ * [[allumette]]

+ * [[allumeur]]

+ * [[allumeuse]]

+ * [[rallumer]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[lumière]]

+ * [[illuminer]]

+ * [[la|lūmen]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}