cadeau French · revision 17126

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1416|origins=la caput}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ka.do/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''cadeau''' ''m'' (plural cadeaux)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|pro|capdel|t=chief, captain; capital letter]], from [[la|capitellum|t=small head; top]] (which gave [[chapiteau]]), the diminutive of [[m|la|caput|t=head]] (see [[chef]]).^(DHLF 1992)^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)^(Grand Robert 2005)^(Wiktionary)^(FEW|2, 258b) Rey and Bloch and Wartburg suppose that the Occitan word already meant a large ornamental initial at the head of a paragraph, often with a figure's head.^(DHLF 1992)^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989) It is a doublet of [[cadet]] and of “chapiteau”.^(Wiktionary) Littré's derivation from Latin “catellus” “little chain”, after the linked pen strokes, is not followed by modern dictionaries.^(Littré 1873)^(DHLF 1992)

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+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ In 1416 a ''cadeau'' is an ornate capital letter in a manuscript.^(DHLF 1992)^(GLLF 1989)^(Grand Robert 2005)

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+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In 1532 it named the flourishes with which writing masters decorated pages, and in 1680 the pen strokes they drew around their models; in 1690 Furetière records the shapes traced idly in ashes or sand and, figuratively, needless ornaments of speech.^(DHLF 1992)^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989) From the refinement of these initials, classical French used ''cadeau'' for a gallant entertainment offered to a lady, with music and a banquet (1656, Molière 1659), already dated for Furetière in 1690.^(DHLF 1992)^(Grand Robert 2005)^(GLLF 1989) Ménage noted that ''faire des cadeaux'' meant to do showy but useless things.^(Littré 1873)^(DHLF 1992) The modern sense “present” is dated 1669 (''cadeau nuptial'') by Rey and the Grand Robert, but 1787 by Bloch and Wartburg.^(DHLF 1992)^(Grand Robert 2005)^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)

+

+ ''Petit cadeau'' is a prostitute's extra fee (1829), ''ne pas faire de cadeaux à qqn'' to be tough with someone (about 1930), and ''c'est pas un cadeau'' is ironic (Céline, 1936).^(DHLF 1992) In African French it is a free extra given by a trader.^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1416 – An ornate capital letter.^(DHLF 1992)

+ * 1532 – Calligraphic flourishes.^(DHLF 1992)

+ * 1656 – An entertainment offered to a lady.^(DHLF 1992)

+ * 1669 – A present, ''cadeau nuptial''.^(DHLF 1992)

+ * 1829 – ''Petit cadeau''.^(DHLF 1992)

+ * c. 1930 – ''Ne pas faire de cadeaux''.^(DHLF 1992)

+ * 1936 – ''C'est un joli cadeau'', ironically, Céline.^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A [[m|en|present]], [[m|en|gift]]: ''faire un cadeau à qqn'', ''cadeau d'anniversaire'', ''faire cadeau de qqch.''.^(Wiktionary)^(GLLF 1989)

+ # ''(familiar)'' ''Ne pas faire de cadeaux'': to show no mercy, ''c'est pas un cadeau'', he/it is a real pain.^(DHLF 1992)^(GLLF 1989)

+ # ''(advertising, in apposition)'' Free: ''paquet cadeau'', gift-wrapping.^(DHLF 1992)

+ # ''(obsolete)'' An ornate capital letter; a calligraphic flourish.^(GLLF 1989)^(DHLF 1992)

+ # ''(classical)'' An entertainment offered to a lady.^(GLLF 1989)^(Grand Robert 2005)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[cadet]]

+ * [[chapiteau]]

+ * [[chef]]

+ * [[capital]]

+ * [[la|capitellum]]

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+ ==Usage notes==

+ The proverb ''les petits cadeaux entretiennent l'amitié'' means “small gifts keep friendship alive”.^(Grand Robert 2005)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}