charge

charge
\ \ [13] The notion underlying the word charge is of a ‘load’ or ‘burden’ – and this can still be detected in many of its modern meanings, as of a duty laid on one like a load, or of the burden of an expense, which began as metaphors. It comes ultimately from Latin carrustwo-wheeled wagon’ (source also of English car). From this was derived the late Latin verb carricāreload’, which produced the Old French verb charger and, via the intermediate Vulgar Latin *carrica, the Old French noun charge, antecedents of the English words. The literal sense of ‘loading’ or ‘bearing’ has now virtually died out, except in such phrases as ‘charge your glasses’, but there are reminders of it in cargo [17], which comes from the Spanish equivalent of the French noun charge, and indeed in carry, descended from the same ultimate source.
\ \ The origins of the verb sense ‘rush in attack’ are not altogether clear, but it may have some connection with the sense ‘put a weapon in readiness’. This is now familiar in the context of firearms, but it seems to have been used as long ago as the 13th century with reference to arrows.
\ \ The Italian descendant of late Latin carricāre was caricare, which meant not only ‘load’ but also, metaphorically, ‘exaggerate’. From this was derived the noun caricatura, which reached English via French in the 18th century as caricature.
\ \ Cf.CAR, CARGO, CARICATURE

Word origins - 2ed. . 2005.

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  • charge — [ ʃarʒ ] n. f. • XIIe; de charger I ♦ 1 ♦ Ce qui pèse sur; ce que porte ou peut porter une personne, un animal, un véhicule, un bâtiment. ⇒ faix, fardeau, poids. Lourde charge. Ployer sous la charge. « les charges laissées aux femmes par nos… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • chargé — charge [ ʃarʒ ] n. f. • XIIe; de charger I ♦ 1 ♦ Ce qui pèse sur; ce que porte ou peut porter une personne, un animal, un véhicule, un bâtiment. ⇒ faix, fardeau, poids. Lourde charge. Ployer sous la charge. « les charges laissées aux femmes par… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • charge — CHARGE. s. f. Faix, fardeau. Charge pesante, excessive, légère. On a donné trop de charge à ce mur, à ce plancher. f♛/b] l signifie aussi Ce que peut porter une personne, un animal, un vaisseau, ou autre chose semblable. La charge d un mulet, d… …   Dictionnaire de l'Académie Française 1798

  • charge — Charge, ou fardeau, Onus. Une charge et charté, Vehes, vehis. La charge qu on baille à aucun pour faire quelque chose, Actus, Mandatum, Ministerium, Negotium, Onus. Toute charge qu on prend, ou qu on baille à faire, Prouincia. Une charge… …   Thresor de la langue françoyse

  • charge — CHARGE. s. f. Faix, fardeau que porte une personne, un animal, un vaisseau, un mur, un plancher, ou autre chose semblable. Charge pesante, excessive, legere. Charge de cotrets, de fagots, Ce qu un Crocheteur peut porter à la fois. Charge de bled …   Dictionnaire de l'Académie française

  • charge — 1 n 1 a: something required: obligation b: personal management or supervision put the child in his charge c: a person or thing placed under the care of another 2: an authoritative instr …   Law dictionary

  • chargé — chargé, ée (char jé, jée) part. passé. 1°   Qui a reçu une charge. Les épaules chargées d un lourd fardeau. La charrette mal chargée par les hommes de service. Un navire chargé. •   Deux mulets cheminaient, l un d avoine chargé...., LA FONT. Fabl …   Dictionnaire de la Langue Française d'Émile Littré

  • Charge — or charged may refer to: Charge (basketball), illegal contact by pushing or moving into another player s torso Charge (fanfare), a six note trumpet or bugle piece denoting the call to rush forward Charge (heraldry), any object depicted on a… …   Wikipedia

  • Charge — Charge, n. [F. charge, fr. charger to load. See {Charge}, v. t., and cf. {Cargo}, {Caricature}.] 1. A load or burder laid upon a person or thing. [1913 Webster] 2. A person or thing commited or intrusted to the care, custody, or management of… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Charge!! — Studio album by The Aquabats Released June 7, 20 …   Wikipedia

  • Charge 69 — Pays d’origine  France Genre musical Punk rock Années d activité 1993 aujourd hui Site officiel …   Wikipédia en Français

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