enfin French · revision 17460

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=compound|attested=1119, Philippe de Thaon, Comput (en fin)|origins=la fīnis}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ɑ̃.fɛ̃/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''enfin'''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is formed [[af|fr|en|fin]], literally “in the end”, first written separately, “en fin”.^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992)^(Wiktionary)^(FEW|3, 561a) The noun [[fin]] continues [[la|fīnis|t=end]].^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ In 1119 Philippe de Thaon's ''Comput'' has ''en fin'' to sum up what has been said, after a list, as a logical conclusion.^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In classical French it came to mark the end of a long wait, with a feeling of relief: Corneille's ''Mais enfin sa clarté montre notre avantage'' (''Le Cid'', 1636).^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992) It also introduces the last item of a list, and is used with feeling to express anger or impatience (''enfin, taisez-vous !'').^(DHLF 1992)^(GLLF 1989)

+

+ In 1792 it served to introduce a restriction or correction (''dans la semaine… enfin''), a use that spread in the 20th century, as did the exclamation of resignation (''enfin !'').^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992) ''Enfin bref'' is found as early as 1745.^(BHVF)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1119 – ''En fin'' in Philippe de Thaon's ''Comput''.^(TLFi)

+ * c. 1130 – ''Enfin'' in ''Eneas''.^(GLLF 1989)

+ * 1636 – “At last”, in Corneille's ''Le Cid''.^(TLFi)

+ * 1745 – ''Enfin, bref''.^(BHVF)

+ * 1792 – Introducing a correction, in Collin d'Harleville.^(TLFi)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adverb===

+ # At [[m|en|last]], finally, after a long wait: ''vous voilà enfin !''^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Wiktionary)

+ # [[m|en|finally]], lastly, in a series: ''d'abord la mère, puis les enfants, enfin le père''.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Larousse)

+ # In short, to sum up: ''enfin bref''.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(BHVF)

+ # Or rather, well: corrects what has just been said: ''elle est blonde, enfin plutôt rousse''.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Wiktionary)

+ # After all: ''il n'est pas sot, enfin''.^(GLLF 1989)

+

+ ===Interjection===

+ # At last!; also expressing impatience or resignation: ''enfin !''^(Wiktionary)^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[fin]]

+ * [[afin]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}