rapprocher French · revision 17654

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=1268|origins=la prope}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ʁa.pʁɔ.ʃe/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''rapprocher'''^(Wiktionary)

+ Old French [[m|fro|raprochier]] (1268); ''rapprocher'' from the early 14th century.^(GLLF 1989)^(Grand Robert 2005)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[af|fr|re-|approcher]].^(Grand Robert 2005)^(Wiktionary)^(Littré 1873)^(GLLF 1989) The verb [[approcher]] continues [[la-lat|appropiō]], used by Church writers, derived from [[m|la|prope|t=near]].^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ In a memorandum of 1268 the Count of Bar wants ''plus raprochier Linei de la signorie de Bar'': to bring persons or things closer to each other.^(TLFi)^(GLLF 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The pronominal ''se rapprocher'', to come closer, dates from 1330, and in Furetière (1690) also means to move to live nearer.^(TLFi) Furetière also records the sense of making something look closer, as of a telescope.^(TLFi) Figuratively it was used for bringing distances closer (Beaumarchais, 1775), as the railway does for Delacroix (1854), and for bringing something nearer in time (1795).^(TLFi)

+

+ From 1682 (Madame de Sévigné) it meant to bring people to friendlier feelings, to reconcile, and, from 1688 (Bossuet) to bring together things for comparison.^(TLFi)^(GLLF 1989) The noun [[rapprochement]] dates from the 15th century.^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1268 – ''Raprochier'' in a memorandum of the Count of Bar.^(TLFi)

+ * 1330 – ''Se rapprocher''.^(TLFi)

+ * 1682 – Madame de Sévigné: to reconcile.^(TLFi)^(GLLF 1989)

+ * 1688 – Bossuet: to compare.^(GLLF 1989)

+ * 1690 – Furetière: to make look closer.^(TLFi)

+ * 1775 – Beaumarchais: ''rapprocher les distances''.^(TLFi)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To bring or move closer: ''rapprochez votre siège'', ''rapprocher deux objets l'un de l'autre''.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To make (something) seem nearer; to make (a distance) quicker to cover: ''l'avion rapproche les distances''.^(Petit Robert 2007)

+ # To bring nearer in time.^(TLFi)^(Petit Robert 2007)

+ # To bring (people) closer together, [[m|en|reconcile]].^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To compare, bring together (ideas, facts).^(Petit Robert 2007)^(GLLF 1989)

+ # ''Se rapprocher'': to come closer; to move nearer; to be similar.^(Wiktionary)^(Petit Robert 2007)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[rapprochement]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[approcher]]

+ * [[proche]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}