grimper French · revision 38674

+ {{infobox|confidence=probable|formation=derivation|attested=1495–1496, Jean de Vignay|origins=frk *grīpan}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /ɡʁɛ̃.pe/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''grimper'''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is probably a nasalized form of [[gripper]] “to climb” (early 14th century), perhaps influenced by [[ramper]], which is close to it in meaning and use.^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992)^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)^(Grand Robert 2005)^(FEW|16, 76a)^(Wiktionary) That verb comes from [[frk|*grīpan|t=to seize]].^(REW 1935)^(FEW|16, 76a) Derivation from [[gem-pro|*krimpan|t=to cling, contract]] has been proposed, but Bloch and Wartburg and Rey reject it because the French verb appears so late.^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)^(DHLF 1992) Littré noted the old derivation from [[goh|klimban]] and [[de|klimmen|t=to climb]], and preferred a word for “to seize” because ⟨griper⟩ and ⟨grimper⟩ were used interchangeably.^(Littré 1873)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ It is first found in 1495–1496, in an edition of Jean de Vignay's ''Miroir historial'', meaning “to climb using the hands and feet”.^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In 1538 Robert Estienne uses it of ivy climbing up walls, and Ronsard has ''lierre grimpant''.^(TLFi)^(Littré 1873) Figuratively it meant rising in society (1669, Bossuet), and transitively ''grimper quelque chose'' “to climb up” (1609, Régnier); from 1680 it was used of any effortful climb to a high place.^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992) In popular speech it was used in 1831 for possessing a woman sexually.^(DHLF 1992) The infinitive used as a noun, ''le grimper'', named climbing in Cuvier (1805) and a gymnastic exercise on a rope from 1902.^(TLFi)^(GLLF 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1495–1496 – First record, in Jean de Vignay's ''Miroir historial''.^(TLFi)

+ * 1538 – Of a climbing plant, in Robert Estienne.^(TLFi)

+ * 1555 – The derived ''grimpereau'', a bird.^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)

+ * 1596 – ''Grimpeur''.^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)

+ * 1609 – Transitive use, in Régnier.^(TLFi)

+ * 1669 – “To rise in society”, in Bossuet.^(TLFi)

+ * 1805 – ''Le grimper'', in Cuvier.^(TLFi)

+ * 1922 – ''Grimpette'', a short steep climb.^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To [[m|en|climb]] using the hands and feet: ''grimper à un arbre'', ''grimper à la corde''.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Of plants: to grow up a wall or support.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Littré 1873)

+ # To climb with effort to a high place; of a road, to climb steeply.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(TLFi)

+ # ''(transitive)'' To climb: ''grimper l'escalier''.^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992)

+ # ''(figurative)'' To rise quickly: ''les prix ont grimpé''; to rise in society.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(DHLF 1992)

+ # ''(familiar)'' ''Grimper aux rideaux'': to be carried away with pleasure.^(Petit Robert 2007)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # ''Le grimper'': rope-climbing as a gymnastic exercise.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(GLLF 1989)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[grimpeur]]

+ * [[grimpant]]

+ * [[grimpette]]

+ * [[grimpée]]

+ * [[grimpereau]]

+ * [[regrimper]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[gripper]]

+ * [[ramper]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}