équilibre

Forms

équilibre m (plural équilibres)^[1] Middle French equalibre (1544).^[2][3][4]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Latin aequilibrium (“exactness of the scales, equilibrium”), a word of Imperial Latin, first in the form equalibre.^[2][3][5] The Latin noun is a compound of aequus (“equal”) and lībra (“balance, pound”).^[2][3][6] The GLLF derives it from the adjective aequilībris (“of equal weight”).^[7] It is related to égal and to livre² “pound”.^[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Maurice Scève's Délie (1544) uses equalibre for equivalence, equality.^[2][3]

Semantic evolution

From the general sense of equality came “equality of weight”, recorded by Cotgrave in 1611.^[2][3] Pascal's Traité de l'équilibre des liqueurs (1663) made it a term of physics for forces that cancel out, and so the state of a system at rest, with équilibre stable (1811) and instable (1837).^[2][3] In everyday use it is a stable posture (en équilibre, perdre l'équilibre), whence the balancing tricks of acrobats and the sens de l'équilibre of physiology.^[3][8] From 1674 it was used in the arts for a harmonious arrangement.^[3] Since the early 18th century it has also meant a sound balance between opposing things: équilibre politique (1748, Montesquieu), équilibre mental.^[2][3] Chemistry took up the scientific sense in 1860 and physics spoke of radioactive equilibrium in 1910.^[3]

Timeline

• 1544 – Equalibre “equivalence” in Scève's Délie.^[2]
• 1611 – Cotgrave records equilibre “equality of weight”.^[2]
• 1663 – Pascal's Traité de l'équilibre des liqueurs.^[2][8]
• 1674 – Used in the arts for a harmonious composition.^[3]
• 1748 – Montesquieu applies it to politics.^[2][3]
• 1762 – Exercises of balance.^[3]
• 1811 – Équilibre stable.^[3]
• 1860 – A term of chemistry.^[3]

Meanings

Noun

1. (physics) Equilibrium, the state of a system on which opposing forces cancel out: équilibre stable, équilibre instable.^[8][6]
2. (chemistry) The state of a substance whose composition stays the same, two opposite reactions running at the same rate.^[8]
3. A stable posture or position; balance: perdre l'équilibre, en équilibre.^[8][2][1]
4. A harmonious proportion between the parts of a work or between opposing things: équilibre politique.^[8][3]
5. Mental stability: équilibre mental.^[3][8]

Word family

• équilibrer
• déséquilibrer
• déséquilibre
• équilibriste

Related words

• égal
• Latin aequilibrium

References

1. ^ a b c Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l 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 d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
4. ^ Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
5. ^ Wartburg, Walther von, et al. (1922–2002), Französisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch, 25 vols., Bonn / Leipzig / Basel: Klopp / Teubner / Zbinden, p. 24, 218b
6. ^ a b Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
7. ^ Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
8. ^ a b c d e f g Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert