aube French · revision 17595

+ French has three words spelled ''aube'': the dawn and the priest's white garment both come from [[la|albus|t=white]], by different routes, and the paddle of a wheel from Latin [[m|la|alapa]].^(Grand Robert 2005)^(DHLF 1992)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ {{homograph|1|dawn}}

+

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=c. 1100, Chanson de Roland|origins=la albus}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ob/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''aube''' ''f'' (plural aubes)^(Wiktionary)

+ Old French [[m|fro|albe]] (1080); ''aube'' from about 1170.^(DHLF 1992)^(Grand Robert 2005)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The dawn is [[inh|fro|albe]], [[inh|la-vul|alba]], the feminine of [[m|la|albus|t=white]] used as a noun, “the white one”, as in [[m|la|alba lux]] and [[m|la|alba diēs]].^(DHLF 1992)^(Grand Robert 2005)^(Wiktionary) Cognate with [[ro|albă]], [[it|alba]], [[oc|alba]], [[ca|alba]], [[es|alba]] and [[pt|alva]].^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Littré 1873)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The ''Chanson de Roland'' has ''Par main en l'albe, si com li jurz esclaire'', “at morning, at dawn, as day breaks”.^(Littré 1873)^(GLLF 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Old French already said ''l'aube crevée'' (''Roman de Renart'') and ''l'aube du jour'' (Joinville, Froissart).^(Littré 1873) Rabelais's ''aube des mouches'' meant the hottest hour of the day, when the horseflies wake and bite.^(DHLF 1992)^(Littré 1873) At the end of the 16th century d'Aubigné uses it as a metaphor for a beginning, ''l'aube de la vie''.^(DHLF 1992) In today's French ''à l'aube'' often means simply “very early in the morning”.^(DHLF 1992) Littré records the sailors' use for the time between the crew's supper and the first watch.^(Littré 1873)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1080 – ''Albe'' in the ''Chanson de Roland''.^(DHLF 1992)

+ * c. 1170 – The form ''aube''.^(DHLF 1992)^(Grand Robert 2005)

+ * 16th century – ''L'aube des mouches'', in Rabelais.^(DHLF 1992)

+ * Late 16th century – ''L'aube de la vie'', in d'Aubigné.^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # The first light of the rising sun, [[m|en|dawn|alt=dawn]], [[m|en|daybreak]]: ''l'aube précède l'aurore'', ''dès l'aube''.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Le Robert)

+ # ''(literary)'' The [[m|en|beginning]] of something: ''à l'aube du troisième millénaire''.^(Le Robert)^(Larousse)

+

+ {{homograph|2|alb}}

+

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1050, Vie de saint Alexis|origins=la albus}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ob/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''aube''' ''f'' (plural aubes)^(Wiktionary)

+ Old French ''albe'' (about 1040); ''aube'' from 1174.^(DHLF 1992)^(Grand Robert 2005)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The vestment is [[bor|la-ecc|alba]], short for [[m|la-ecc|alba vestis|t=white garment]], from [[m|la|albus|t=white]].^(DHLF 1992)^(GLLF 1989)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The ''Vie de saint Alexis'' (about 1050) has it for the white garment of the clergy.^(GLLF 1989)^(Grand Robert 2005)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # ''(Christianity)'' An [[m|en|alb]]: the white linen vestment worn under the chasuble by priests at Mass.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Larousse)

+ # A long white robe worn by children at their first communion.^(Petit Robert 2007)

+

+ {{homograph|3|paddle}}

+

+ {{infobox|confidence=probable|formation=inherited|attested=1080, Chanson de Roland|origins=la alapa}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ob/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''aube''' ''f'' (plural aubes)^(Wiktionary)

+ Old French [[m|fro|alve]] (1080), [[m|fro|auve]] (late 12th century); ''aube'' from 1283.^(DHLF 1992)^(REW 1935)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The paddle is [[inh|fro|alve]], probably [[inh|la-vul|alapa]], which meant a book cover in Medieval Latin and is recorded in the 1st century as “a slap”; it may first have meant the palm of the hand.^(DHLF 1992)^(Wiktionary) The origin of the Latin word is obscure, and Schuchardt's Etruscan source is very hypothetical.^(DHLF 1992) The REW gives the outcomes [[ro|aripă|t=wing]], [[pro|aubo]] and [[es|álabe|t=paddle of a wheel]].^(REW 1935)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The ''Chanson de Roland'' uses it for the small board joining the two saddlebows;^(GLLF 1989) the form ''aube'' in 1283 has that sense and that of the paddle of a mill wheel.^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ French took from the popular Latin word a sense “paddle” not attested in Latin, applied to mill wheels, then to the wheels of ships (''bateau à aubes'') and to the blades of turbines and pumps.^(DHLF 1992)^(GLLF 1989)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A [[m|en|paddle]] or blade of a water wheel, a paddle wheel, a turbine or a pump: ''bateau à aubes''.^(GLLF 1989)^(DHLF 1992)

+ # The vane of a windmill.^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(saddlery, historical)'' A small board joining the two saddlebows.^(GLLF 1989)^(REW 1935)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[aubage]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[aurore]]

+ * [[aubade]]

+ * [[aubépine]]

+ * [[aubier]]

+ * [[la|albus]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}