baisser French · revision 17144

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=c. 1100, Chanson de Roland (baissier)|origins=la-lat bassus}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /bɛ.se/^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA: /be.se/^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Quebec): /bɛ.se/^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Quebec): /bɛː.se/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''baisser'''^(Wiktionary)

+ Old French ''baissier'' (1080).^(DHLF 1992)^(Grand Robert 2005)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|fro|baissier]], from popular Latin [[inh|la-vul|*bassiō]], derived from Late Latin [[m|la-lat|bassus|t=low]] (see [[bas]]); in Romance it stands opposed to “*altiāre” (see [[hausser]]).^(DHLF 1992)^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)^(Grand Robert 2005)^(FEW|1, 272a)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ Cognate with [[pro|baissar]], [[ca|baixar]], [[es|bajar]] and [[pt|baixar]].^(REW 1935)^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ In the ''Chanson de Roland'' (about 1100) it means to bend a part of the body towards the ground: ''Baisse son chef, si comence à penser'' “he bows his head and begins to think”.^(Littré 1873)^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In seamanship it meant to lower (about 1150), and of a sound to reduce its strength (about 1175).^(DHLF 1992) ''Se baisser'' is from 1432.^(DHLF 1992) Intransitively it meant to decline in height from the 12th century (''Li soleuz besse'', the sun goes down), and figuratively of sound or light.^(DHLF 1992)^(Littré 1873) From the 17th century it was used of a person losing strength or faculties, and in trade of a falling price (1695); the transitive “to lower the price of” followed in 1835.^(DHLF 1992) ''Baisser pavillon'' “to strike one's flag” gave the figurative “to give in”.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Littré 1873)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1100 – ''Baissier'', ''Chanson de Roland''.^(DHLF 1992)

+ * c. 1150 – To lower, in seamanship.^(DHLF 1992)

+ * c. 1175 – To lower a sound.^(DHLF 1992)

+ * 1432 – ''Se baisser''.^(DHLF 1992)

+ * 1695 – Of falling prices.^(DHLF 1992)

+ * 1723 – ''Baisse''.^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)

+ * 1835 – To lower a price.^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To [[m|en|lower]], let down: ''baisser un store'', ''baisser la vitre'', ''baisser pavillon'', to give in.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(GLLF 1989)

+ # To bow, bend (a part of the body): ''baisser la tête'', ''baisser les yeux'', ''tête baissée'', headlong.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(GLLF 1989)

+ # To turn down, reduce: ''baisser le son'', ''baisser les prix'', ''baisser la voix''.^(Wiktionary)^(DHLF 1992)

+ # ''Baisser les bras'': to give up.^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(intransitive)'' To go down, fall, drop: ''les prix baissent'', ''le jour baisse''.^(Wiktionary)^(DHLF 1992)

+ # ''(intransitive)'' To decline, weaken: ''sa vue baisse''.^(Wiktionary)^(DHLF 1992)

+ # ''Se baisser'': to bend down, stoop.^(Wiktionary)^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[baisse]]

+ * [[baissier]]

+ * [[abaisser]]

+ * [[abaissement]]

+ * [[rabaisser]]

+ * [[rabais]]

+ * [[rebaisser]]

+ * [[surbaissé]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[bas]]

+ * [[hausser]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}