lancer French · revision 17248

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

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /lɑ̃.se/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''lancer'''^(Wiktionary)

+ Old French [[m|fro|lancier]] (1080); ''lancer'' from about 1170.^(Grand Robert 2005)^(GLLF 1989)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|fro|lancier]], [[inh|la-lat|lanceō|alt=lanceāre|t=to wield a lance]], formed on [[m|la|lancea|t=lance]] (whence [[lance]]).^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992)^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)^(Grand Robert 2005)^(Wiktionary)^(FEW|5, 153b)

+

+ Cognate with [[it|lanciare]], [[pro|lansar]], [[ca|llançar]], [[es|lanzar]] and [[pt|lançar]].^(Wiktionary)^(Littré 1873) The verbs [[de|lancieren]] and [[nl|lanceren]] were borrowed from French.^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ In the ''Chanson de Roland'' (about 1100) it means to hurl a weapon: ''lançuns a lui, puis sil laissums ester'' “let us throw our spears at him, then leave him be”.^(TLFi)^(Littré 1873)^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In the 12th century ''se lancer'' meant to rush forward (about 1170), and ''lancer'' to launch a boat (about 1180); the Old French intransitive use of the throbbing heart was taken over by [[élancer]], though ''ça me lance'' survives regionally and in Belgium.^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992) It was used of looks (about 1270), of starting game in hunting (1481–90), of uttering words with vigour (1578) and of launching a ship from the slipway (1530).^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992) ''Se lancer dans'' “to embark on” dates from 1790; in the 19th century it meant to promote a book (1822) or a person in society (before 1825), and later to start a machine or an engine.^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992)^(BHVF) The noun ''un lancer'' (1735) is a throw, and in athletics the throwing events.^(Grand Robert 2005)^(Petit Robert 2007)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1100 – ''Lancier'' a weapon, ''Chanson de Roland''.^(TLFi)

+ * c. 1170 – ''Se lancer'', Chrétien de Troyes.^(TLFi)

+ * c. 1180 – To launch a boat.^(TLFi)

+ * c. 1270 – ''Lanchier dous regars''.^(TLFi)

+ * 1578 – To utter words, Garnier.^(TLFi)

+ * 1790 – ''Se lancer dans''.^(TLFi)

+ * 1822 – ''Lancer un livre'', Stendhal.^(TLFi)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To [[m|en|throw]], hurl: ''lancer une pierre'', ''lancer le javelot''.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To fire, launch (a missile, rocket, satellite).^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Larousse)

+ # To give out, let out: ''lancer un cri'', ''lancer un regard'', ''« Assez ! » lança-t-il''.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To [[m|en|launch]], start: ''lancer une entreprise'', ''lancer un produit'', ''lancer un moteur''.^(Wiktionary)^(DHLF 1992)

+ # To make known, bring into fashion: ''lancer une mode'', ''lancer un acteur''.^(DHLF 1992)^(GLLF 1989)

+ # To launch (a ship); ''(hunting)'' to start (game).^(DHLF 1992)^(TLFi)

+ # ''Se lancer'': to rush, leap, ''se lancer dans'', to embark on.^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992)

+ # ''(regional, familiar)'' Of a pain, to throb: ''ça me lance''.^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # A throw, ''(athletics)'' the throwing events, ''(fishing)'' casting: ''pêche au lancer''.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Larousse)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[lancement]]

+ * [[lanceur]]

+ * [[lancée]]

+ * [[relancer]]

+ * [[relance]]

+ * [[élancer]]

+ * [[élan]]

+ * [[lance-flammes]]

+ * [[lance-pierre]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[lance]]

+ * [[la|lancea]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}