Etymologically
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élève

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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)