fermer French · revision 17380

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

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /fɛʁ.me/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''fermer'''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|la|firmō|t=to make firm, strengthen; to confirm]], derived from [[m|la|firmus|t=firm, strong]].^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992)^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)^(FEW|3, 569b)^(Wiktionary) The shift to “to close” may have begun in Late Latin, where “firmare” and “confirmare” were often said of strengthening the bars and bolts of doors.^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992) “Fermer” gradually replaced the old verb [[clore]].^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)^(REW 1935)

+

+ Compare [[it|fermare|t=to stop]], [[pro|fermar|t=to fix, confirm]] and [[pt|firmar]].^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)^(Littré 1873)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ It is first found in the ''Chanson de Roland'' (about 1100), meaning “to fix, fasten”.^(TLFi)^(Grand Robert 2005)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In Old French it meant “to build (a castle)” (1155) and “to fortify” (about 1160), a sense usual until the 16th century.^(TLFi)^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989) From this came the idea of barring and closing, ''des portes fermer'' (about 1175), then “to cut off access” and “to shut down a business”, ''fermer sa boutique'' (1547), and abstractly “to end” (1580).^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992) The intransitive use is from the 15th century, ''la ferme !'' “shut up!” from 1901, and ''fermer'' “to switch off” a tap or an appliance from 1872.^(TLFi)^(GLLF 1989)

+

+ In several regions it still means “to shut in”, as in ''fermé dehors'' “locked out”.^(DHLF 1992) From the sense “to fix, settle” came the legal noun [[ferme]] “lease”, whence the farm.^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)^(Petit Robert 2007)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1100 – “To fasten”, in the ''Chanson de Roland''.^(TLFi)

+ * 1155 – “To build (a castle)”, in Wace.^(TLFi)

+ * 12th century – ''Enfermer''.^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)

+ * c. 1175 – “To close (doors)”, in Benoît de Sainte-Maure.^(TLFi)

+ * 13th century – ''Ferme'' “lease, farm”.^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)

+ * 1547 – ''Fermer sa boutique''.^(TLFi)

+ * 1872 – “To turn off (a tap)”.^(GLLF 1989)

+ * 1901 – ''La ferme !''.^(GLLF 1989)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To [[m|en|close]], [[m|en|shut]]: ''fermer la porte'', ''fermer les yeux''.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To lock: ''fermer à clé''.^(Wiktionary)

+ # To do up (a garment); to seal (a letter).^(Wiktionary)

+ # To shut down, close (a shop, a business): ''fermer boutique''.^(TLFi)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To block, bar: ''fermer la route''.^(GLLF 1989)

+ # To [[m|en|switch]] off: ''fermer le robinet'', ''fermer la radio''.^(Wiktionary)^(GLLF 1989)

+ # ''Fermer la marche'': to bring up the rear.^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(intransitive)'' To close: ''le magasin ferme à 19 heures''.^(TLFi)

+ # ''(slang) La fermer'': to shut up.^(GLLF 1989)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[refermer]]

+ * [[fermeture]]

+ * [[fermoir]]

+ * [[enfermer]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[clore]]

+ * [[affermir]]

+ * [[la|firmō]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}