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élève

Etymology and origin of the French word élève

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Confidence
Established
Formation
Back-formation
First attested
1653, Oudin
Ultimate origin
Latin (levō)
Etymology tree
inherited borrowed derived
Latin levis
English oblivion
Latin levo
French lever
English levee
French élever
French élève
French soulever
French enlever
Latin relevo
French relever
French relief
English relief

Pronunciation

  • IPA: /e.lɛv/[1]

Forms

élève m or f by sense (plural élèves)[1]

Etymology

It is a deverbal noun from French élever (“to raise, bring up”), modelled on the corresponding Italian allievo (“pupil”), recorded from the late 15th century.[2][3][4][1]

Earliest recorded meaning

Oudin records it in 1653, in his French–Italian Recherches under allievo, for a person taught an art by a master.[2][5]

Semantic evolution

Furetière (1690) has un élève de Port-Royal, of a person who received the teaching of a school, and the sense “pupil of a school” has become the usual one.[2][5] Bescherelle records in 1845 the uses for a young animal raised for breeding and a plant whose growth is directed, already found of animals in Crèvecœur (1801).[5][2] In the army an élève officier is a candidate for a rank.[6][5]

Many languages borrowed the word, among them Danish elev, Swedish elev, Polish elew and Romanian elev.[1]

Timeline

  • 1653 – A pupil of a master, in Oudin.[2]
  • 1690 – A pupil of a school, in Furetière.[2]
  • 1694 – The Académie records the word.[2]
  • 1801 – Of a young animal raised by breeders.[2]

Meanings

Noun

  1. A person taught by a master in an art or science; a disciple: un élève de Raphaël.[4][3]
  2. A pupil or student of a school: un mauvais élève, parents d'élèves.[4][6]
  3. (military) A candidate for a rank: élève officier.[6][5]
  4. (agriculture) A young animal raised for breeding; a plant whose growth is directed.[6][5]

Usage notes

A separate feminine noun élève, also a deverbal noun from élever, meant “breeding, rearing” (arbres d'élève 1615, l'élève des chevaux), and is now dated; it was replaced by élevage.[2][3]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i Trésor de la langue française informatisé (2004), ATILF – CNRS & Université de Lorraine, atilf.fr/tlfi; electronic version of Imbs, Paul; Quemada, Bernard, eds. (1971–1994), Trésor de la langue française, Paris: CNRS / Gallimard
  3. ^ a b c Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
  4. ^ a b c Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
  5. ^ a b c d e f Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
  6. ^ a b c d Dictionnaire de français Larousse, larousse.fr/dictionnaires/francais (accessed 2024)
Cite this entry

“Élève.” Etymologically, 18 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/fr/%C3%A9l%C3%A8ve. Accessed 18 Oct. 2026.

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