poursuivre French · revision 17111

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=c. 1160, Roman d'Eneas (porsivre)|origins=la prōsequor}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /puʁ.sɥivʁ/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''poursuivre'''^(Wiktionary)

+ Old French ''porsivre'', ''pursivre'', ''porsuir'' and many other spellings until the 16th century, ''poursuivre'' from the 13th century.^(GLLF 1989)^(Grand Robert 2005)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|fro|porsivre]], [[inh|la-lat|prōsequor|t=to follow, accompany; to prosecute (a case)]], reshaped after [[pour]] and [[suivre]].^(TLFi)^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Wiktionary)^(FEW|9, 465a) The Late Latin verb is found in the 6th century in the Salic Law, in “prosequi causam” “to bring a suit”, Vulgar and early Medieval Latin also have the forms “prosevere” and “prosequire”.^(TLFi)^(Wiktionary) The Grand Robert, the GLLF and Littré instead analyse it as [[af|fr|pour-|suivre]], with “pour-” as an intensive prefix.^(Grand Robert 2005)^(GLLF 1989)^(Littré 1873)

+

+ Old French also had [[m|fro|parsivre]], [[m|fro|persuir]], from [[la|persequor|t=to pursue, persecute]], which influenced the meaning; most other Romance languages continue that verb: [[it|perseguire]], [[oc|persegre]], [[es|perseguir]].^(Wiktionary)^(Petit Robert 2007)^(REW 1935)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The ''Roman d'Eneas'' (about 1160) uses it for following someone, usually enemies, closely in order to catch them.^(TLFi)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ By about 1170 it meant to persecute (the ''Livre des Rois''), and about 1228 to pester someone for something; about 1260–72 it is used of a man pressing his attentions on a woman.^(TLFi) In law ''poursuivre'' meant to take action against someone from 1271.^(TLFi)

+

+ From the 13th century it also meant to keep on with something already begun (''poursuivre son chemin''); Molière used it absolutely for going on with a story (1655).^(TLFi)^(GLLF 1989)^(BHVF) With a thing as subject it meant to keep tormenting someone (late 13th century), and ''se poursuivre'' to go on in time (1268).^(TLFi) The present participle [[poursuivant]] became a noun for a herald's assistant (1318–20), a suitor and later, in cycling, a pursuit rider (1919).^(TLFi)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1160 – To chase enemies, ''Roman d'Eneas''.^(TLFi)

+ * c. 1170 – To persecute, ''Livre des Rois''.^(TLFi)

+ * 1268 – ''Se poursuivre'' “to continue”.^(TLFi)

+ * 1271 – To prosecute.^(TLFi)

+ * 1655 – To continue a story, Molière.^(TLFi)^(BHVF)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To [[m|en|pursue]], [[m|en|chase]]: ''poursuivre les fugitifs'', ''se poursuivre'', to chase one another.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To haunt, torment, [[m|en|persecute]]: ''ce souvenir le poursuit'', ''poursuivre qqn de sa haine''.^(Wiktionary)^(Petit Robert 2007)

+ # To pursue (an aim): ''poursuivre un but''.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(GLLF 1989)

+ # To continue, carry on (with): ''poursuivre ses études'', ''(absolute)'' to go on speaking.^(Wiktionary)^(TLFi)

+ # ''(law)'' To [[m|en|prosecute]], sue: ''poursuivre qqn en justice''.^(Wiktionary)^(TLFi)

+ # ''Se poursuivre'': to go on, continue.^(Wiktionary)^(TLFi)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[poursuite]]

+ * [[poursuivant]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[suivre]]

+ * [[persécuter]]

+ * [[la|prōsequor]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}