In addition to ordinary terms, during the heyday of the aristocracy, the Russian language also borrowed many foreign concepts. In their own way magnificent, elegant, and also used in relation to overseas guests from specific states. Since then, every Russian knows: "Monsieur" is a greeting from France. But only? When did it arise and how was it used initially? Indeed, during a trip to Russia, the word acquired several new meanings.
Legacy of the monarchy
The primary source is the Latin mon senior as an appeal of "my senior" to a relative or a person located higher in the hierarchy. The intermediate stage was the French:
Only in the XVI century in Paris officially sounded "Monsieur." It was the closest relative of the king, his brother. Seniority was taken into account, that is, a hypothetical opportunity to ascend the throne in the event of the death of the monarch and in the absence of heir children. Also, as a title, the word migrated to the religious sphere, where Monsieur de Paris was a bishop of Paris. And during the revolutionary period, a small substitution took place, and the evil citizens began jokingly calling it the executioner, the chief arbiter of fate at that time.
Borrowing practice
What is common with today's version? The historical interpretation implies that at first there was a court monsieur and Madame - his wife. Over time, titles have turned into polite appeals, analogues of traditional ones:
- mister - madam;
- sir - madam.
During the demand for French fashion, unexpected meanings appeared among the Russian aristocracy. So, in the framework of obsolete jargon, the speaker had in mind a synonym for the words “type, subject”, indicating suspicious persons in an ironic manner. At a more formal level:
- a teacher with a child, often from France;
- teacher of the corresponding language at the institute or boarding house;
- shopkeeper with fashion news.
Common name for many familiar things to the average person. And in the framework of vernacular, everyone knew that the “Frenchman” is “Monsieur” and vice versa. In attempts to ennoble reality, at least in words, the following definitions arose:
- landlord, landlord;
- husband, spouse
The first option was spoken by the servants, mentioning the gentleman, the second - legal wives, trying to imitate foreigners.
Modern communication
Is it worth repeating the “feat” of ancestors? Unless in a humorous manner, because now it is customary to address by name, without service prefixes. In an extreme case, they use synonyms:
But, if you are often abroad in French-speaking countries, now you will never get confused!