endroit French · revision 17339

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=compound|attested=1121–1134, Philippe de Thaon (endreit)}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ɑ̃.dʁwa/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''endroit''' ''m'' (plural endroits)^(Wiktionary)

+ Old French [[m|fro|endreit]], [[m|fro|androit]], Chifflet noted the pronunciation ''endret'' as old-fashioned.^(TLFi)^(Littré 1873)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is the Old French adverb [[m|fro|endreit|t=exactly, precisely]] used as a noun; the adverb was formed [[af|fr|en|droit|t2=straight; exactly]], and also served as a preposition meaning “near, at the time when”.^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992)^(GLLF 1989)^(FEW|3, 88b) Bloch and Wartburg note the preposition, in the sense “towards”, in use until the 16th century.^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989) “Droit” continues [[la|dīrēctus|t=straight]].^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989) Wiktionary traces the phrase to [[la|in]] “directum” and compares [[oc|endrech]] and [[ca|indret]].^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ As a noun it is first found in Philippe de Thaon's ''Bestiaire'' (1121–1134), meaning a particular place.^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992) The adverb is older: the ''Vie de saint Alexis'' (about 1050) has ''Dunc le menat andreit suz le degret'' (“then he led him right under the stairs”).^(TLFi)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ About 1170 Chrétien de Troyes uses it for the side of a thing meant to be seen, opposed to ''envers''; in 1176 it meant a respect or point of view, which survives in ''à l'endroit de'' “towards (someone)” (before 1188).^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992) By 1200 it named a part of a thing, such as a part of the body, and Du Bellay (1549) uses it for a passage of a book.^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992) In the 17th century it took on a time sense, “moment” (Madame de Sévigné, 1675).^(DHLF 1992)^(GLLF 1989)

+

+ The Académie recorded the sense “the place where one lives” in 1798, and ''par endroits'' “here and there” dates from 1869.^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992) The euphemism ''le petit endroit'' for the toilet appears in 1773.^(BHVF)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1050 – The adverb ''andreit'' in the ''Vie de saint Alexis''.^(TLFi)

+ * 1121–1134 – The noun, “place”, in Philippe de Thaon.^(TLFi)

+ * c. 1170 – The right side of a thing, in Chrétien de Troyes.^(TLFi)

+ * before 1188 – ''À l'endroit de'' “towards”.^(TLFi)

+ * 1549 – A passage of a text, in Du Bellay.^(TLFi)

+ * 1675 – “Moment”, in Madame de Sévigné.^(DHLF 1992)

+ * 1773 – ''L'endroit'' for the toilet.^(BHVF)

+ * 1798 – A locality, in the Académie's dictionary.^(TLFi)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A [[m|en|place]], spot: ''un endroit tranquille'', ''au même endroit''.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Le Robert)

+ # A [[m|en|locality]], village: ''les gens de l'endroit''.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(GLLF 1989)

+ # A part of a thing or of the body: ''à quel endroit avez-vous mal ?''.^(Larousse)^(Petit Robert 2007)

+ # A passage of a book or play: ''rire aux bons endroits''.^(Larousse)

+ # An aspect, a point: ''toucher l'endroit sensible''.^(Larousse)

+ # The right side of a fabric or object, as opposed to the reverse, ''à l'endroit'', right side out.^(Larousse)^(Littré 1873)

+ # ''(familiar)'' ''Le petit endroit'': the [[m|en|toilet]].^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Le Robert)

+ # ''Par endroits'': here and there, ''à l'endroit de'': towards, regarding.^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[droit]]

+ * [[envers]]

+ * [[adroit]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}