joli French · revision 17335

+ {{infobox|confidence=probable|formation=derivation|attested=c. 1140, Gaimar (jolif)|origins=non jól}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ʒɔ.li/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''joli''' (feminine jolie, masculine plural jolis, feminine plural jolies)^(Wiktionary)

+ Old French [[m|fro|jolif]], feminine ''jolive'', ''joli'' is found from the 13th century.^(DHLF 1992)^(GLLF 1989)^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is probably formed from [[non|jól]], the name of a great pagan feast in midwinter, with the suffix “-if” on the model of “aisif” “pleasant” (from [[aise]]).^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992)^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)^(Grand Robert 2005)^(FEW|16, 284b) Littré, after Diez, thought the word had come in with the Normans.^(Littré 1873) The Norse word matches [[ang|ġēol]], [[en|yule]], and Gothic “jiuleis” in “fruma jiuleis” “November”, Wiktionary takes it back to [[gem-pro|*jehwlą]].^(DHLF 1992)^(Wiktionary) The original sense would thus be “festive”.^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ Paul Meyer suggested instead a popular Latin “*gaudivus”, from [[la|gaudeō|t=to rejoice]], with /d/ becoming /l/ as in “cigale”, Rey calls this fragile, but it fits the earliest senses, which express pleasure rather than feasting.^(DHLF 1992)^(Wiktionary) Compare [[pro|joliu]].^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Gaimar uses ''estre jolif de femmes'' about 1140 in the sense “to be given to sensual love”.^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In Old French the word had many senses: “lustful, ardent” (1140), “merry, joyful” (13th century), “tender”, “dressed up, elegant” (Rutebeuf, about 1265) and sometimes “brave, loyal”.^(DHLF 1992)^(TLFi) Most of them faded before the 16th century, leaving ''joli cœur'', a ladies' man, and survive partly in [[en|jolly]], borrowed from it.^(DHLF 1992)^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989) The moral sense “amiable, likeable” lasted into the classical period.^(DHLF 1992)^(Petit Robert 2007)

+

+ The modern sense, “very pleasant to see or hear”, appears about 1360 in Froissart, as a softer word than ''beau'', often suggesting smallness; it is used of things from 1360 and of animals from 1690.^(DHLF 1992)^(GLLF 1989) Molière (1671) applies it to a clever trick played on someone.^(TLFi) Familiarly it has meant “considerable” since about 1550 (''un joli magot''), and ironically “unpleasant” since 1634.^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992)^(BHVF)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1140 – ''Jolif'' “lustful”, in Gaimar.^(TLFi)

+ * 13th century – “Merry”; the form ''joli''.^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992)

+ * c. 1265 – “Elegant”, in Rutebeuf.^(TLFi)

+ * c. 1360 – “Pleasant to look at”, in Froissart.^(DHLF 1992)^(GLLF 1989)

+ * c. 1550 – “Considerable”, of a sum of money.^(TLFi)

+ * 1634 – Ironic “unpleasant”.^(DHLF 1992)^(BHVF)

+ * 1671 – “Clever, amusing”, of a trick, in Molière.^(TLFi)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # [[m|en|pretty]], attractive: ''une jolie fille'', ''un joli garçon'', ''une jolie maison''.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Le Robert)

+ # Pleasant to hear: ''une jolie voix''.^(Le Robert)

+ # Pleasing, well turned: ''un joli mot''.^(DHLF 1992)^(Petit Robert 2007)

+ # ''(familiar)'' [[m|en|considerable|alt=Considerable]], tidy: ''une jolie somme''.^(DHLF 1992)^(TLFi)

+ # ''(ironic)'' Nasty, fine: ''c'est du joli !''.^(Larousse)^(DHLF 1992)

+ # ''(dated)'' Amiable, likeable, ''faire le joli cœur'', to play the ladies' man.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(TLFi)

+ # ''(Louisiana)'' Pleasant, nice.^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[joliment]]

+ * [[joliet]]

+ * [[enjoliver]]

+ * [[enjolivement]]

+ * [[enjoliveur]]

+ * [[enjolivure]]

+ * [[jolivet]]

+ * [[jolivement]]

+ * [[joliesse]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[beau]]

+ * [[mignon]]

+ * [[en|jolly]]

+ * [[non|jól]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}