quitter French · revision 17431

+ {{infobox|confidence=probable|formation=derivation|attested=c. 1150, Roman de Thèbes|origins=la quiētus}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ki.te/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''quitter'''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The TLFi derives it from the adjective [[quitte]] “free of an obligation”; the Grand Robert and the Petit Robert take it from [[la-med|quītō|t=to discharge, release]], a variant of [[m|la-lat|quiētō]], from [[m|la|quiētus|t=at rest, quiet]], and Wiktionary allows both.^(TLFi)^(Grand Robert 2005)^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Wiktionary) Littré glosses the Latin verb as “to make quiet”, whence “to exempt, give up, leave”, and notes that country people say “quitte-moi tranquille”.^(Littré 1873)

+

+ Cognate with [[pro|quitar]], [[es|quitar]] and [[it|quietare]].^(Littré 1873)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ It is first found in the ''Roman de Thèbes'' (about 1150) in the sense “to hold quit, set free”; the Grand Robert also gives the 12th-century senses “to excuse from paying” and “to absolve of sins”.^(TLFi)^(Grand Robert 2005)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ ''Quitter quelque chose à quelqu'un'' meant “to let someone off (a fault, a debt)” in Chrétien de Troyes (1176–1181) and “to give up, cede” about 1175, ''quitter la place à quelqu'un'' is in Ronsard (1552).^(TLFi) The sense “to leave, abandon” appears in 1266, ''quitter la place'' in 1539.^(TLFi)

+

+ In the 16th century Ronsard uses it for leaving a place (1550), parting from a person (1553), taking off a garment (1553) and giving up one's religion (1563); with a thing as subject it is found in 1604.^(TLFi) ''Ne quittez pas'' “hold the line” is said on the telephone.^(Petit Robert 2007)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1150 – “To set free” in the ''Roman de Thèbes''.^(TLFi)

+ * 1176–1181 – “To let off (a debt, a fault)”, in Chrétien de Troyes.^(TLFi)

+ * 1266 – “To leave, abandon”.^(TLFi)

+ * 1539 – ''Quitter la place''.^(TLFi)

+ * 1550 – “To leave (a place)”, in Ronsard.^(TLFi)

+ * 1553 – “To part from (someone)” and “to take off (a garment)”.^(TLFi)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To [[m|en|leave]] a place: ''quitter Paris'', ''quitter la table''.^(Wiktionary)^(Petit Robert 2007)

+ # To leave, part from a person: ''il l'a quittée''.^(Wiktionary)

+ # To give up an activity or way of life; to take off a garment.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(TLFi)

+ # ''Ne quittez pas'': hold the line.^(Petit Robert 2007)

+ # ''(law, obsolete)'' To release someone from an obligation.^(Wiktionary)^(Petit Robert 2007)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[quittance]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[acquitter]]

+ * [[quitte]]

+ * [[quiet]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}