contenter French · revision 17550

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=1314, Picard charter|origins=la contineō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /kɔ̃.tɑ̃.te/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''contenter'''^(Wiktionary)

+ First written ''contemter'' (1314).^(TLFi)^(Grand Robert 2005)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[af|fr|content|-er]], a verb formed on the adjective.^(TLFi)^(Grand Robert 2005)^(GLLF 1989)^(Littré 1873) [[content|alt=Content]] is from [[la|contentus|t=satisfied; content with little]], the past participle of [[m|la|contineō|t=to hold together; to restrain]].^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A Picard charter of 1314 has ''contemter'' “to give satisfaction”.^(TLFi)^(Grand Robert 2005)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Froissart (14th century) has ''s'en contenter'' “to be satisfied with it”, and Commynes ''chascun se contenta de luy'', everyone was pleased with him.^(Littré 1873)^(GLLF 1989) Amyot (1559) uses ''se contenter de'' in the restrictive modern sense “to make do with, to confine oneself to”.^(TLFi)^(Littré 1873) In classical French ''contenter quelqu'un'' could mean to appease or pay off a creditor or claimant (Malherbe).^(GLLF 1989)^(Littré 1873)

+

+ La Fontaine wrote that he is mad who claims to please ''tout le monde et son père'';^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Le Robert) ''on ne peut pas contenter tout le monde'' is proverbial.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Le Robert)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1314 – ''Contemter'', in a Picard charter.^(TLFi)

+ * 14th century – ''Mécontenter''.^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)

+ * 15th century – The noun ''contentement''.^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)

+ * 1559 – ''Se contenter de'', in Amyot.^(TLFi)

+ * 1694 – The Académie records the verb.^(TLFi)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To [[m|en|satisfy]], please (someone) by giving them what they want: ''on ne saurait contenter tout le monde''.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Grand Robert 2005)

+ # To satisfy (a need or desire): ''contenter sa curiosité''.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(GLLF 1989)

+ # ''Se contenter de'': to be content with, make do with: ''se contenter de peu''; to confine oneself to.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Littré 1873)

+ # ''(classical)'' To appease; to pay off.^(GLLF 1989)^(Littré 1873)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[contentement]]

+ * [[mécontenter]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[content]]

+ * [[mécontent]]

+ * [[la|contentus]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}