continuer French · revision 17422

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1154–1173, Benoît de Sainte-Maure|origins=la teneō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /kɔ̃.ti.nɥe/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''continuer'''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|la|continuō|t=to join without a break; to go on with]], an early borrowing (1154–1173); the Latin verb is derived from [[m|la|continuus|t=continuous]], from [[m|la|contineō|t=to hold together]] (see [[contenir]]).^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992)^(Grand Robert 2005)^(Petit Robert 2007) In Latin it meant “to extend in space, join so as to form an unbroken whole”, “to make follow in time” and “to pursue what has been begun”, and “continuāre magistrātum” was to prolong a magistracy.^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ Cognate with [[oc|continuar]], [[es|continuar]] and [[it|continuare]].^(Littré 1873)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ It is first found in Benoît de Sainte-Maure's ''Roman de Troie'' (1154–1173), meaning “to go on with what has been undertaken”.^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Used absolutely it meant “to last” from about 1370 (Jean Le Fèvre).^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992) The special sense “to keep (someone) in office” (1467) declined after the 18th century.^(DHLF 1992) With the idea of a break, it meant taking up a task left unfinished by another, as continuing a story (Furetière, 1690).^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992) The spatial sense, prolonging a line or a wall, appears in 1611 (Cotgrave).^(TLFi) ''Continuateur'' was formed in 1579.^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1154–1173 – ''Continuer'' in Benoît de Sainte-Maure.^(TLFi)

+ * c. 1306 – ''Continu''.^(DHLF 1992)

+ * c. 1370 – Absolute “to last”.^(TLFi)

+ * 1467 – “To keep in office”.^(TLFi)

+ * 1579 – ''Continuateur''.^(DHLF 1992)

+ * 1611 – “To prolong in space”, in Cotgrave.^(TLFi)

+ * 1690 – “To carry on (another's work)”, in Furetière.^(TLFi)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To go on with, carry on: ''continuer ses études'', ''continuer sa route''.^(Petit Robert 2007)

+ # ''Continuer à'', ''continuer de'' + infinitive: to keep on doing.^(Petit Robert 2007)

+ # ''(intransitive)'' To go on, [[m|en|last]]: ''la pluie continue'', ''continuez !''^(Petit Robert 2007)^(TLFi)

+ # To [[m|en|extend]], prolong in space: ''continuer une ligne''.^(TLFi)

+ # To take up and pursue another's work.^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[continu]]

+ * [[continuel]]

+ * [[contenir]]

+ * [[la|continuō]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}