envoyer French · revision 17419

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=c. 980, Passion de Clermont|origins=la via}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ɑ̃.vwa.je/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''envoyer'''^(Wiktionary)

+ Old French [[m|fro|enveiier]] (about 980), [[m|fro|enveier]], ''envoyer'' from the 12th century.^(DHLF 1992)^(Grand Robert 2005)^(Wiktionary)

+ The future ''enverrai'' was formed after that of ''voir''.^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|fro|enveier]], [[inh|la-lat|inviō|t=to travel over, walk on; to reach]], formed from [[m|la|in-]] and [[m|la|via|t=road, way]] (see [[voie]]).^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992)^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)^(FEW|4, 796a)^(Wiktionary) Bloch and Wartburg note that the Late Latin verb, “to make one's way”, must early have taken the sense “to send”.^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)

+

+ Cognate with [[it|inviare]], [[oc|enviar]], [[es|enviar]] and [[pt|enviar]].^(Wiktionary)^(Littré 1873)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ It is first found about 980 in the ''Passion'' of Clermont, as ''enveied'', in the sense “to make (someone) go somewhere”.^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In the 12th century it took the sense “to throw, hurl” (about 1165, ''Guillaume d'Angleterre''), whence later “to deal (a blow)” (18th century), and “to have something delivered to someone” (1172, Chrétien de Troyes).^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992) In 1694 it meant “to appoint, delegate (someone) to an assembly”.^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ Many phrases use it to mean getting rid of someone: ''envoyer quelqu'un promener'' (1640), ''envoyer ad patres'' (1694), and ''envoyer balader'', ''paître'', ''sur les roses''.^(DHLF 1992) The slang reflexive ''s'envoyer'', of food, drink or a lover, dates from 1897 (Courteline).^(TLFi)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 980 – ''Enveied'' in the ''Passion'' of Clermont.^(TLFi)

+ * 12th century – The form ''envoyer''; the noun ''envoi''.^(DHLF 1992)^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)

+ * c. 1165 – “To throw”.^(TLFi)

+ * 1172 – “To send (something)”, in Chrétien de Troyes.^(TLFi)

+ * 1640 – ''Envoyer promener''.^(DHLF 1992)

+ * 1694 – ''Envoyer ad patres''.^(DHLF 1992)

+ * 1897 – Slang ''s'envoyer'', in Courteline.^(TLFi)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To [[m|en|send]] someone somewhere: ''envoyer un enfant à l'école''.^(Petit Robert 2007)

+ # To send something: ''envoyer une lettre''.^(DHLF 1992)^(Petit Robert 2007)

+ # To [[m|en|throw]], hurl; to deal (a blow): ''envoyer un ballon''.^(DHLF 1992)

+ # ''Envoyer promener'', ''envoyer balader'': to send packing.^(DHLF 1992)

+ # ''(slang)'' ''S'envoyer'': to down (a drink, a meal); to have sex with.^(TLFi)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[envoi]]

+ * [[envoyeur]]

+ * [[renvoyer]]

+ * [[renvoi]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[voie]]

+ * [[envoyé]]

+ * [[la|via]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}