perdu French · revision 17488

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=c. 980, Jonas fragment of Valenciennes|origins=la perdō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /pɛʁ.dy/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''perdu''' (feminine perdue, masculine plural perdus, feminine plural perdues)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ Used as an adjective and a noun, it is the past participle [[der|fr|perdre|t=to lose]].^(TLFi)^(GLLF 1989)^(Petit Robert 2007)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ In the Jonas fragment of Valenciennes (about 980) it is said of a person whose life, physical or moral, is in danger.^(TLFi)^(GLLF 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Most senses follow those of the verb.^(Petit Robert 2007) Of things, it meant “wasted, used to no purpose” about 1260 (''peine perdue'' in the ''Ménestrel de Reims''), and of goods “of which one is deprived for good” at the same time.^(TLFi)^(GLLF 1989) Froissart has ''chemins perdus'' for out-of-the-way roads in the late 14th century, the origin of ''un coin perdu''.^(TLFi)^(Petit Robert 2007) In 1352 it meant “gone astray” and so “damned”, and Bossuet has ''brebis perdue'' for a Christian who has strayed (1683).^(TLFi)

+

+ Nicot records ''une femme perdue'' in 1606, and Racine has ''tout est perdu'' in 1673.^(TLFi) Madame de Sévigné has ''moments perdus'' for spare time (1671) and ''à fonds perdu'' for money placed in a life annuity (1688).^(TLFi) In the 18th century it came to mean “lost in thought” (before 1755) and “bewildered, at a loss” (1744).^(TLFi) The proverb ''un de perdu, dix de retrouvés'' is found in 1809.^(BHVF)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 980 – Of a person in danger, in the Jonas fragment.^(TLFi)

+ * c. 1260 – ''Peine perdue''.^(TLFi)^(GLLF 1989)

+ * 1352 – “Gone astray; damned”.^(TLFi)

+ * Late 14th century – ''Chemins perdus'', in Froissart.^(TLFi)

+ * 1606 – ''Une femme perdue'', in Nicot.^(TLFi)

+ * 1671 – ''Moments perdus'', in Madame de Sévigné.^(TLFi)

+ * 1673 – ''Tout est perdu'', in Racine.^(TLFi)

+ * 1744 – “Bewildered”, in Duclos.^(TLFi)

+ * 1809 – ''Un de perdu, dix de retrouvés''.^(BHVF)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # [[m|en|lost|alt=Lost]]; no longer possessed: ''l'argent perdu au jeu'', ''tout est perdu'', there is no hope left.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Le Robert)

+ # Mislaid, gone astray: ''objets perdus'', ''chien perdu''.^(Petit Robert 2007)

+ # ''(of a place)'' Remote, [[m|en|isolated]]: ''un coin perdu''.^(Petit Robert 2007)

+ # Wasted, spent to no purpose: ''peine perdue'', ''à ses moments perdus'' (in one's spare time).^(GLLF 1989)^(TLFi)

+ # Beyond saving; doomed: ''un malade perdu''.^(TLFi)

+ # [[m|en|bewildered|alt=Bewildered]], at a loss; lost in thought: ''perdu dans ses pensées''.^(TLFi)

+ # ''Balle perdue'': a stray [[m|en|bullet]].^(GLLF 1989)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # ''Comme un perdu'': like a madman: ''crier comme un perdu''.^(TLFi)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[perdre]]

+ * [[perte]]

+ * [[la|perdō]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}