fiancé French · revision 38547

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=c. 1180 (adjective)|origins=la fīdus}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /fjɑ̃.se/^(Wiktionary)

+ * /fi.jɑ̃.se/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''fiancé''' (feminine fiancée, masculine plural fiancés, feminine plural fiancées)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[der|fr|fiancer|t=to betroth]], from the verb's past participle used as an adjective and a noun.^(Grand Robert 2005)^(GLLF 1989)^(Wiktionary) The verb comes from [[fro|fiance|t=pledge, oath of loyalty]] (1080),^(DHLF 1992)^(TLFi) from the verb [[fier]], [[inh|la-vul|*fīdō|t=to entrust]], derived from [[la|fīdus|t=faithful]].^(DHLF 1992)^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ As an adjective, ''fiancié'' meant “bound by one's word, committed by homage” in the late 12th century; the noun in the modern sense, ''sa fyancee'', is first recorded in 1367 in a charter of Sens.^(GLLF 1989)^(DHLF 1992)^(TLFi)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The verb ''fiancer'' first meant “to pledge one's word” (about 1170), then “to undertake to marry” (1225–1229), and the participle followed it, from “engaged on one's honour” to “engaged to be married”.^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992) In the mid-20th century the noun also came into use as a [[m|en|euphemism]] for a lover.^(DHLF 1992) Littré records ''fiancée'' as the name of several moths (1877).^(GLLF 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1170 – ''Fiancier'' “to pledge one's word”, in Chrétien de Troyes' ''Erec et Enide''.^(TLFi)

+ * c. 1180 – The adjective, “bound by one's word”.^(Grand Robert 2005)^(DHLF 1992)

+ * 1367 – The noun ''fyancee'' in the modern sense.^(TLFi)^(Grand Robert 2005)

+ * mid-20th century – Used as a euphemism for a lover.^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A [[m|en|fiancé]] or fiancée: a person who has promised to marry.^(GLLF 1989)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(familiar, euphemism)'' A lover, boyfriend or girlfriend.^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ ===Adjective===

+ # [[m|en|engaged|alt=Engaged]] to be married.^(Wiktionary)^(Grand Robert 2005)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[fiancer]]

+ * [[fiançailles]]

+ * [[fier]]

+ * [[fiance]]

+ * [[la|fīdus]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}