autant French · revision 17356

+ {{infobox|confidence=probable|formation=inherited|attested=c. 1170 (altant)|origins=la alius, la tantus}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /o.tɑ̃/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''autant'''^(Wiktionary)

+ Old French [[m|fro|altant]] (about 1170–1190), ''autant'' (about 1180); it replaced Old French ''altretant'' (1080).^(DHLF 1992)^(Grand Robert 2005)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|la-vul|*al tantu]], from earlier “*aliud tantum”, a popular form of classical “alterum tantum” “as much again”, from [[la|alius|t=other]] (or [[m|la|alter]]) and [[m|la|tantum|t=so much]].^(DHLF 1992)^(Wiktionary)^(Grand Robert 2005)^(FEW|13/1, 88b) Old French “altretant”, with [[it|altrettanto]], continues “alterum tantum”.^(Wiktionary)^(Littré 1873) The same pattern gave [[aussi]].^(REW 1935)

+

+ Compare [[oc|atretan]], [[ca|altretant]], [[es|otro tanto]] and [[pt|outro tanto]].^(Littré 1873)^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ It is first found about 1170 as ''altant'', at first as an adjective (12th–14th centuries), and as an adverb from about 1180.^(DHLF 1992)^(Grand Robert 2005)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Many uses appeared in the 16th century: ''autant… autant'', ''d'autant'' and ''d'autant que'' (1532), ''pour autant que'' and ''d'autant plus que'' (Montaigne).^(DHLF 1992) ''Autant comme autant'' meant “in equal amounts” (1690) and survived in familiar use for “as the case may be”; in central and western France it means “enormously”.^(DHLF 1992) ''Autant'' + infinitive, “might as well”, is common: ''autant partir tout de suite''.^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1080 – The older ''altretant''.^(DHLF 1992)

+ * c. 1170 – ''Altant''.^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)^(DHLF 1992)

+ * c. 1180 – ''Autant'' as an adverb.^(DHLF 1992)

+ * 1532 – ''D'autant que''.^(DHLF 1992)

+ * 16th century – ''D'autant plus que'', in Montaigne.^(DHLF 1992)

+ * 1690 – ''Autant comme autant''.^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adverb===

+ # As much, as many: ''autant que vous'', ''autant de livres que''.^(Wiktionary)^(Littré 1873)

+ # So much, so many: ''je ne pensais pas qu'il y en aurait autant''.^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''Autant'' + infinitive: might as well: ''autant rester ici''.^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''D'autant plus que'': all the more as, ''pour autant'': for all that.^(DHLF 1992)

+ # ''Aimer autant'': to prefer, would just as soon.^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[tant]]

+ * [[autre]]

+ * [[aussi]]

+ * [[pourtant]]

+ * [[la|tantum]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}