surtout French · revision 17385

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=compound|attested=1470, Comptes de Doullens (sur tout “in all”)}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /syʁ.tu/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''surtout'''^(Wiktionary)

+ Written ''sur tout'' until the Académie joined it in 1718.^(TLFi)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is a compound of [[sur]] and [[tout]].^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992)^(Grand Robert 2005)^(FEW|13/2, 126a)^(Wiktionary) It replaced older adverbs built from the same words, such as Old French [[m|fro|ensobretot]] (late 10th century), “ensorquetot” (about 1050) and “surketut” (about 1240).^(DHLF 1992)^(TLFi)^(Grand Robert 2005)

+

+ Compare [[it|soprattutto]] and [[es|sobre todo]].^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ It is first found, isolated, in 1470 in the accounts of Doullens, meaning “in all”; at the end of the 15th century Commynes uses it for “above all, principally”.^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The sense “above all, more than anything” has become archaic except to strengthen an order or advice: ''surtout, ne dites rien'' (before 1549, Marguerite de Navarre).^(DHLF 1992)^(GLLF 1989) The usual modern sense, “especially, particularly”, singles out one element among others.^(DHLF 1992)^(Petit Robert 2007) ''Sur tout que'' meant “principally” in 1539, and the familiar ''surtout que'' “all the more so as” is recorded in 1903 (Francis Jammes).^(TLFi)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1050 – The older ''ensorquetot''.^(DHLF 1992)

+ * 1470 – ''Sur tout'' “in all”.^(TLFi)

+ * Late 15th century – “Principally”, in Commynes.^(TLFi)

+ * 1718 – The Académie writes ''surtout''.^(TLFi)

+ * 1903 – ''Surtout que'' “especially as”, in Francis Jammes.^(TLFi)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adverb===

+ # [[m|en|especially]], particularly, mainly: ''il travaille surtout la nuit''.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Wiktionary)

+ # [[m|en|above all]] (strengthening an order): ''surtout, ne dis rien'', ''n'entrez surtout pas''.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(GLLF 1989)

+ # ''(familiar, criticized) Surtout que'': all the more so as.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(TLFi)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[sur]]

+ * [[tout]]

+ * [[partout]]

+ * [[atout]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ A separate noun ''surtout'', formed from the same words in 1684, named a loose overcoat and, from 1690–1694, a decorative centrepiece for the table, Furetière called it new that year.^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)^(DHLF 1992)^(Petit Robert 2007)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}